232 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Tlic yiold in every ease was in favor of nitrate of soda, while the varying per cents 

 of sugar leave that feature of the question still very inuoiuliisive. 



Comparing plots nine and ten in table one, page 227, we find that nitrate of soda pro- 

 iluced 4,200 more pounds of heets per aero, wliich were 1.70% richer in sugar, witli a 

 material increase in the co-ellicient of ])urity. 



In connection with the College Farm soil test experiment a com])aris()n of ammonia 

 and nitrate nitrogen was made. The soil was medium loam and of uniform character, 

 •dissolved phosphate rock and muriate of potash applied in like quantities in each case. 



Purity. 



Complete fertilizer (Nitrate nitrogen). . . 

 Complete fertilizer (Ammonia nitrogen) 



In favor of nitrate nitrogen 



•;^^aerker found but little difference in results where 600 kilograms of nitrate of soda 

 j)er hectare in three applications of 200 kilograms each were made in comparison with 

 450 kilograms of sulphate of ammonia. Nitrate of soda produced 1,G00 more kilo- 

 grams of beets per hectare, while the ammonia produced beets with .9% more sugar, 

 thereby producing 86 kilograms more sugar per hectare than the nitrate of soda. He 

 further states that the results were more favorable where half of the nitrogen was ap- 

 plied in form of nitrate and half in the form of ammonia. 



LIME AS A FERTILIZER FOR SUGAR BEETS. 



In connection with the fertilizer experiment in field No. 6, a comparison of the 

 effect of lime on a growing crop was also made. 



Where the plots limed and unlimed were compared they were adjacent and other- 

 wise uniformly treated, the application of lime being at the rate of one ton per acre. 

 Below are figures taken from table No. 3 showing the results of the effect of lime: 



Fertilizer. 



Sugar beet fertilizer 



Complete fertilizer (Nitrate nitro- 

 gen) ■■..• 



Complete fertilizer (Ammonia nitro 

 gen) 



No fertilizer 



Average 



Liiiiecl.— 1 ton per acre. 



Yield, 



pounds 

 per acre. 



Per cent 

 sugar. 



14,. 350 

 17,750 



14,630 



14,960 



15,423 



14.33 

 15.48 



15.78 



15.21 



15.20 



Puritv. 



79.1 

 82.2 



79.4 



81.8 



80.6 



Unlimed. 



Yield, 



pounds 



per acre. 



Per cent 

 sugar. 



12,560 

 15,630 



15,000 



13,660 I 



14,213 



15.22 

 15.25 



15.1 



15.17 



15.19 



Purity. 



81.9 

 82.2 



83.2 



83.2 



82.6 



These figures on the average show an increased yield of 1,210 pounds per acre, and a 

 slight decrease in the purity from liming, while the percentage of sugar remains prac- 

 tically the same. 



The figures below were taken from table No. 4 of experiments on muck land, and 

 show from an average of seven plots, limed and unlimed, as follows: 



.Seven plots, limed, yield per acre, 11,580 pounds; per cent of sugar, 7.68; purity, 

 69. The same fertilizers and conditions existing on a similar area, though unlimed, 

 gives a yield of 12,883 pounds per acre; per cent of sugar, 0.64, and purity, 72.61, or 

 over eleven per cent more beets; nearly two per cent higher in sugar, and 3.61 higher 

 purity. 



* Landwirtschaftliche Jahrbiicher Band XXYIII. 

 A kilogram=2.204 pounds. 

 A hecUire=2.471 acres. 



