113 



related, iucroasing and dorreasing together more evenly. It is possible that In this 

 correlation, within certain limits, we may linda inon^ important factor in the solution 

 of the sugar jjroblem in this State than is found in the limited range of temperature 

 and rain-fall in Europe. Only continued experiment and observation can determine 

 this point. 



The distribution of this rain-fall through the months in question is in- 

 dicated in a table giving the number of rainy days in each of the months, 

 at stations of the Nebraska weather service in thirty-three counties. 

 For i)urposes of comi)arison a tabulated statement is given of the num- 

 ber of rainy days in each of the summer months in the sugar-beet dis- 

 trict of Belgium, as compiled by Professor McMurtrie in the report of 

 this Department above referred to. 



Stated briefly, our rain-fall is greater than it is in the sugar districts of Europe, and 

 falls in fewer days ; our temperature is slightly higher, but is closely correlated, to 

 the rain-fall ; both rain-fall and temperature decrease in September, a couditiou that 

 in itself is conducive to the formation of sugar in the beet ; the number of sunny days 

 is about one third greater here than there. How these modifications of essential con- 

 ditions will affect the sugar content of beets must be determined by continued, ex- 

 periment in various parts of the State in the raising of beets from good seed and 

 under the best conditions of culture. 



Si((/ar content. — Probably the most important factor, in the estimation of one who is 

 looking forward to the raising of sugar-beets as a possible business, is the amount of 

 sugar found in the beets raised in Nebraska during this year. 



An examination of the column headed sucrose (Table I) shows that the sugar con- 

 tent varies, to a marked extent, from 2 to 22.28 per cent. Out of the one hundred 

 and sixty-six samples of beets analyzed there are sixty-one in which the sugar con- 

 tent is 12 per cent and over. As has been already intimated, the beets that are rich 

 in sugar do not represent any one particularly favored locality, but may be looked 

 upon as fairly representing the entire State, as far as differences iu soil and in cli- 

 matic conditions are concerned. 



Since it is very important to secure the greatest possible uniformity 

 in the sugar content of beets, the conditions deemed essential to secure 

 this end in those countries where the sugar-beet industry is most highly 

 developed are compared with the conditions under which the beets 

 were grown in the experiments in Nebraska. In France and Germany 

 the seed used is produced from beets rich in sugar content and grown 

 iu the locality where it is to be planted. As early a date of planting as 

 the temperature of the soil will allow is necessary. From the selection 

 of the seed to the harvesting of the crop the greatest care and skill are 

 employed to obtain beets rich in sugar and uniform in quality. In Ne- 

 braska, on the other hand, the seed, while not necessarily poor, was, in 

 nearly every case, used without reference to its adaptability to soil or 

 climate. The time of phmting, as before stated, ranged from April 4 

 to June 15. Not only were most of the growers unacquainted with the 

 best methods of sugar-beet culture, but in many cases ordinary cultiva- 

 tion was only sparingly given. The only exception to these conditions 

 was in the case of the farmers about Grand Island. The results of 

 their experience and knowledge may be seen in the uniformly high per- 

 centages of sugar in their beets. In the experiments reported from 



