242 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 19U 



SUGAR BEETS FOR FACTORY PURPOSES. 



This investigation, instituted some years ago to ascertain the suitability of 

 different parts of the Dominion to the growth of sugar beets satisfactory for sugar 

 extraction, has been continued, seed from three leading varieties having been sown 

 on nine of the Dominion Experimental Farms and Stations, and the products 

 analyzed. 



The varieties used in the test were Vihnorin's Improved A, Vilmorin's Improved 

 B, and Klein Wanzleben, the seed being obtained from the well-known house of seeds- 

 men and plant breeders, Messrs. Vilmorin, Andrieux et Cie., Paris, France, who 

 have, by their skilful and painstaking work, accomplished so much in recent years 

 in the improvement of the sugar beet. 



Although these specially bred and selected varieties are noted for their high 

 sugar-content and possess undoubtedly in a marked degree the property or quality 

 of withstanding conditions conducive to their deterioration, they, in common with 

 all varieties, are susceptible to some extent to conditions of season, soil and culture. 

 It is, therefore, not surprising that considerable differences should be found when 

 examining the products grown at so many and widely distant points as have been 

 included in this trial. A survey, however, of the whole series shows results remark- 

 ably satisfactory; in the larger number of instances, the beets were exceptionally 

 good and in one or two cases only would the roots be accounted too poor for profit- 

 able sugar extraction. From the fact that the present data are strongly supported 

 by those of previous years, it would seem that beets eminently suited for factory 

 purposes, both as to richness and purity, can be grown in many parts of Canada. 

 The manufacture of beet root sugar is at the present time carried on at two points 

 in the Dominion — the one in western Ontario, the other in Alberta— and the beets 

 used in both establishments are, we understand, of a satisfactory character. Our 

 results go to show that beets of equally good quality could be grown in many othei 

 districts. 



