148 



Bulletin 244. 



inaccurate, and Marck suggested the use of the polariscope for determin- 

 ing the actual percentage of sugar in the juice. This method sHghtly 

 modified, is still in use. 



In Germany an actual average increase of 45 per cent, in sugar was 

 made in 30 years and, using the average of the area grown in the United 

 States, there is an increase of over 50 per cent, in 44 years and every 

 prospect of maintaining this rate of increase for one or more decades. 



In 1904 the actual yield of sugar 

 from a ton of beets in the United 

 States was 230 lb. In Europe in 

 1805 and for some years later it was 

 about 100 lb. from one ton. This 

 increase is due to better methods 

 in manufacture and to better beets. 

 Some authorities go so far as to say 

 tliat the latter factor is responsible 

 for an increase of 100 lb. per ton, 

 or an average of one lb. per year 

 for 100 years, a remarkable gain, 

 since it costs no more to grow the 

 good beet to-day than it would to 

 grow a poor one, and it is 100 per 

 cent, better. 



In contrast with these figures, 

 it is of interest to compare the com- 

 position of the mangels for the past 

 50 years in England, since more at- 

 tention has been devoted to this 

 crop in England than in this coun- 

 try; and since the dry matter con- 

 tent of the root appears to decide 



Fig. 58. — Carter 100-Ton carrot. 0)w of 

 the best yielding stock varieties. It is 

 liable to crack, hoivever, on clay soils 

 when sown early. May do better on 

 •t^ht soils. Six-inch squares. 



its value, this character is used for consideration: 



Year. 



1852 

 1880-4 

 1885-9 



1890 



1890—4 

 1895-1900 



Dry matter 

 per cent. 

 England. 



10.97 

 11.78 



13.04 

 II .80 



Cornell 



Experiment 



Station. 



9.68 



