444 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Adding up the total yields of all plots and leaving out the four rows of cut seed 

 of the Sir Walter Raleigh variety, the results are as follows: 



Spring planted 1,976 lbs. 



Fall planted 1,954 lbs. 



In favor of spring planted 22 lbs. 



Not sprayed 2,006 lbs. 



Sprayed 1,924 lbs. 



In favor of not sprayed 82 lbs. 



Level cultivation 2,038 lbs. 



Hilled up 1,892 lbs. 



In favor of level culture 146 lbs. 



SUGAR BEETS. 



The tests with sugar beets were continued with the intention of studying the 

 relating facts as influenced by the peculiar climatic conditions of this region. 

 The co-operative experiments made in 1902 and related in Bulletin No. 207 and 

 Special Bulletin No. IS, brought out the now undisputable fact that beets richest 

 in sugar content grow at the northern limit of possible production. This in no 

 small measure stimulated the erection in 1903 of the largest beet sugar factory 

 in the State, and the vastness of this yet undeveloped region lends added interest 

 to the study of all the phases of the sugar beet problem, since one may expect 

 that these northern regions may eventually become the center of greatest activity 

 in the production of sugar beets. The two problems of special importance are: 

 first, the production of sugar beet seed; second, the effect upon the sugar content 

 of the beet and upon the beet itself by being left unharvested until spring. Should 

 all other conditions i^ove favorable, there is good reason to expect that the 

 production of high grade seed will be more rapidly accomplished in northern 

 regions, since the tendency of the beet in accumulating an extra percentage 

 of sugar with nature's gratuitous aid, might reasonably be expected to be trans- 

 mitted to the seed. 



A portion of the sugar beet plots was left unharvested in order to determine 

 during spring of 1904 the value of storing beets by this unique method. Should 

 ultimate tests prove that the beets imdergo no change, perhaps even gain by this 

 process, there will have been pointed out an added incentive for sugar beet pro- 

 duction, and its importance can hardly be overestimated whenever ample acreage 

 can be secured. 



On page 3 of Special Bulletin No. 18, mention is made of the laboratory test 

 for ascertaining the shrinkage of samples of beets during transportation. In 

 order to ascertain such shrinkages as it occurs in actual practice, sample beets 

 were pulled and shipped the same day both to the Menominee River Sugar Co., 

 at Menominee, Mich., and to the Agricultural College, a tag being fastened to 

 each beet giving the weight at the time of shipping. The results are shown in 

 the following table, giving also the sugar content and purity as analyzed. The 

 average test of all beets gives a sugar percentage of 16.4 and 86. 4 purity at 

 the Menominee sugar factory. 



BEETS SHIPPED TO MEXOMIN'EE. 



