733 



grower, variety of beet, time of planting and harvesting, kind of soil, 

 amount of cultivation, average temperature, rain-fall, and number of 

 rainy days in each mouth, from April to November inclusive; weight of 

 sample beets, total solids, i)ei' cent of sucrose and glucose, and co-eflicient 

 of purity. The statements of 20 individual growers regarding the yield, 

 cultivation, cost, etc., of the crop of beets are given in connection with 

 the tabulated results of the analyses of samples sent in by them. It 

 appears from these statements that in general the beets did not receive 

 that careful and thorough cultivation which is essential to the best 

 results. 



Another important statement that is characteristic of these letters, and to which 

 ■we invite particuhir attention, is that the beets were the least affected by the adverse 

 season of any crop raised. In this is an important argument for the diversification 

 of farm crops. Here is a crop tliat is almost certain in a season that is destructive 

 to ordinary grains and gra.sses. A man who this season has a few acres of beets has 

 that which will enable him to carry his stock through the winter even if his other 

 crops have been almost total failures. 



The following table gives the averages in weight, sugar, and purity 

 of the four principal varieties used in the three districts of the State : 



Averages in net weigJit, sucrose, andpurily of the principal varieties of beets grown in 1890. 



Considering only the three factors of weight, sucrose, and purity, the Klein Wanz- 

 leben and Desprez have given the best average results for the season. » * * 



It should be remembered that the season in the northern district was at least two 

 weeks shorter than that in the other districts ; that the season in the middle district 

 varied in its meteorological conditions the least of any from the normal, while the 

 southern district had the longest and, comparatively speaking, the most abnormal 

 season. 



Another table gives the average number of rainy days in each month 

 from April to November inclusive, for periods ranging from 1 to 13 

 years, as furnished by the Nebraska weather service for 62 stations in 

 the State. 



Insect enemies of the sugar hect (pp. 55-72). — Instructions were issued 

 to the growers at the substations, and especially to the field agents of 

 the station, to make careful observations of all insects feeding on the 

 roots or leaves of the beets, and to send specimens of such insects, with 

 notes on them, to the station. The station entomologist, L. Bruner, 

 rei)orts in this article on the following insects found to be the most 



