FIELD CROPS. 39 



ami also has a special device for preventing the seed from reaching the ground in 

 early fall. 



"The proper methods to be adopted are to use clean seed and prevent red rice from 



seeding after the general harvest." 



Sugar-beet investigations in Wisconsin during 1897, F. W. 

 Woll (Wisconsin Sta. Bui. 64, pp.104, Jigs. 5). — The work reported 

 consisted of cooperative culture experiments made by farmers in the 

 counties adapted to agriculture; culture tests at one or more substations 

 in a number of counties, at each of which one-half acre of beets were 

 grown under the direction of tbe station to ascertain the cost of pro- 

 duction; a variety test; and a fertilizer experiment with sugar beets 

 ou marshy soil at the station farm. The results are tabulated and tbe 

 analytical work is described. The season was not very favorable for 

 the growth of sugar beets. 



For the cooperative experiments 13,760 one-fourth pound packages 

 of seed were sent out with complete directions for sowing, cultivating, 

 etc. Analyses were made of 1,(363 samples of beets from 6$ counties, 

 showing an average of 12.67 per cent of sugar in the juice with 74.1 as 

 the average coefficient of purity. The average yield of beets per acre 

 in these experiments is estimated at 12.8 tons. The richest beets were 

 grown on the drift soils of the State. The counties located in the drift- 

 less section or sandstone section produced beets of the lowest average 

 richness. The author states that " the sugar beet, in order to reach its 

 highest development, requires soils rich in lime, and with us preferably 

 such as are produced by glacial drift overlying limestone formations or 

 produced by the decomposition of the Keweenawan or copper-bearing 

 series (shale, conglomerate porphyry, etc.), in the extreme northwest of 

 the State." 



The relative value of beets of different degrees of purity, the impor- 

 tance of proper culture, and the influence of the soil are discussed. It 

 was found that white beets are richer in sugar and have a higher coef- 

 ficient of purity than red beets. Proper culture was found to be of 

 greater importance than the use of any particular kind of standard 

 seed. It was observed that in general beets grown after cereals were 

 of good quality, and that beets following summer fallow were excep- 

 tionally high in sugar content and purity. A number of rotations are 

 suggested. 



The average cost of growing an acre of beets at 28 substations was 

 $28.73 including all items from plowing the soil to storing the beets, 

 except the cost of the seed and the rent of the land. The average 

 yield obtained at 27 substations was 29,850 lbs. of beets per acre. 

 Analyses were made of samples taken at the time the beets were har- 

 vested and about 1 month earlier. Forty-seven early samples from 36 

 substations averaged 13.49 per cent of sugar in the juice, with a purity 

 of S0.6; while 46 samples taken at the time of harvesting averaged 

 15.22 per cent of sugar in the juice with a purity of 80.2. 



At the station farm a 3- acre field was plowed 6 in. deep on May 7, 



