REPORT OF THE CHEMIST 



167 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Sugar Beets. 



The sugar beets examined and here reported upon comprise samples from Strath- 

 cona, N.W.T., Winnipeg, Man., and Prince Edward Island. 



North-west Territories. — Strathcona, Alta. 



These samples were forwarded by Mr. Nelson D. Mills, Strathcona, who in send- 

 ing the particulars of growth (October 1) writes : ' These beets were sown very late, 

 and came through two hailstorms of unusual severity. In addition to this there have 

 been severe white frosts during the last two weeks, so that if they show a proper per- 

 centage of sugar, then no weather that Alberta has in store can interfere with beet 

 raising. I may add that none of the beets had special attention as to tillage, such as 

 deep ploughing and cultivating to kill weeds, &c.' 



The particulars of growth as furnished by Mr. Mills are given in table I. ; the ana- 

 lytical data in table II. 



Table I.— Sugar Beets— Strathcona, N.W.T., 1901. 





Name. 



William Place. 



2!Thos. Rooney. 

 3 James Pithie. . 



Address. 



Variety of Beets. 



Sowing 



S.W. \ Sec. ll,Tp. 52 Klein Wanzleben 



R. 24, 4 miles from 



Strathcona 



2 miles south of 



Strathcona 



Salisbury, Alta. . . 



Dates. 



June 15. 



May 22. 



May 29. 



Pulling. 



Sept. 30. 



Oct. 1.. 

 Oct. 2.. 



Distance 

 between 



Rows. 



Inch. 

 24 



24 

 30 



Plants 



in 

 Rows. 



Inch. 

 8 



6 

 10 



Black loam, clay 

 subsoil. 



Black loam, un- 



manured. 

 Sandy loam, un- 



manured. 



Table II. — Analysis of Sugar Beets from Strathcona, N.W.T., 1901. 



a 



Variety. 



Klein Wanzleben. 



Percentage 



of Sugar in 



Juice. 



15 01 

 12 84 

 14 02 



Percentage 



of Solids in 



Juice. 



17 95 

 16 20 

 17-20 



Co-efficient 



of 



Purity. 



84 73 

 79 26 

 8151 



Average 

 Weight of 

 one Root. 



Lbs. Oz. 



1 1 



1 2 



13 



Both as regards sugar-content and degree of purity, our data are indicative of 

 excellent quality, and these beets would be considered as quite satisfactory for sugar 

 extraction. In our report for 1900 we gave the analytical data from two samples of 

 sugar beets grown in the Lethbridge district. These also indicated that beets with 

 good sugar-content could be grown in Alberta, and it would, therefore, seem advisable, 

 if sugar manufacture is seriously contemplated, to make a more complete test, growing 

 the beets from the best seed, on larger areas and with strict attention to proper culture. 

 The number of samples hitherto examined is too small for safe deductions as to the 

 general suitability of Alberta for beet sugar production, but certainly the results so 

 far obtained are of a promising character. 



