162 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



With regard to this variety, we have observed that of all the sugar beets grown 

 during the past two seasons on the Central Farm it showed the least tendency to grow 

 above the surface of the soil, and consequently required least earthing up. Indeed, very 

 little difference could be detected between the roots earthed up and those grown under 

 ordinary field culture, and the analytical data confirm this observation. For this reason 

 we are of the opinion that it would be a desirable variety to grow where the crop is 

 intended for feeding purposes. 



Sugar beets Nos. 12 to 18, inclusive, did not receive special culture, being simply 

 grown in test plots to obtain the yields per acre. We notice that the Danish Improved 

 stands highest in sugar content, corroborating the statement just made regarding this 

 variety. The Klein Wanzleben and Vilmorin's Improved stand next in order of merit. 

 No doubt, under special culture for factory purposes, the majority of these varieties 

 would have shown a much higher percentage of sugar, but the present results are of 

 interest in showing their relative merit in sugar production when treated as ordinary 

 field roots. 



Mangels with a high sugar percentage. 



We would call special attention to the two mangels, Half Sugar Kosy and Half 

 Sugar White (Nos. 10 and 11), from seed produced and kindly furnished by 

 Messrs. Yilmorin, of Paris, France. The sugar content is remarkably high for man- 

 gels, clearly indicating their importance for feeding purposes. We have in them an 

 excellent example of the scope and value of special breeding and selection with a defi- 

 nite end in view, the Messrs. Vilmorin having for some years been engaged in develop- 

 ing a mangel with a high sugar percentage. 



Sugar content in lower and upper parts of roots. 



To furnish experimental proof of the statement regarding mangels that has sev- 

 eral times been made respecting sugar beets, viz., that the part of the root beneath the 

 soil contains more sugar, and hence has a higher feeding value than the portion above 

 ground, we made an analysis of six roots each of Gate Post and Giant Yellow Globe 

 mangels, estimating the sugar in the upper and lower parts of the roots. The following 

 statement gives our results : — 



Variety of Mangel. 



Giant Yellow Globe Mangel — part below ground. 

 ,< ii part above ground . 



Gate Post Mangel — part below ground 



ii part above ground 



Percentage 

 of Sugar. 



508 

 454 

 475 

 412 



A consideration of the fact that sugar is the chief constituent of value in roots 

 might lead us to infer, in the light of this experiment, that a system of culture which 

 tends to keep the roots fairly well earthed up is one that will result in the most nutri- 

 tious crop. Further, those varieties which naturally tend to grow beneath the soil, 

 providing they furnish an adequate yield per acre, will be the most profitable to grow. 



