FIELD CROPS. 



The following table is based on the results of experiments 



145 



Relative amounts of leaves, crowns, and crownless beets per ton of whole crop and the con- 

 tent of plant food. 



The composition and production of sugar beets, L. L. Van 

 Slyke, W. H. Jordan, and G. W. Churchill (New York State Sta. 

 Bui. 135, pp. 543-572). — This bulletin discusses the conditions required 

 for the successful growth of sugar beets and the outlook for the sugar- 

 beet industry in the State of Xew York, and gives a report of the cul- 

 ture experiments made with sugar beets at the station and in various 

 parts of the State. 



About 140 samples of Kleinwanzlebeuer and Vihnorin Improved beets, 

 grown under favorable climatic conditions iu various parts of the State, 

 varied from 12.7 per cent to 19.6 per cent of sugar iu the juice, giviug 

 an average of 16.1 per cent, with an average coefficient of purity of 82.5. 

 The average weight of one beet was 16.5 oz. 



The experiments at the station showed the cost of producing an acre 

 of beets, based on hand labor at $1.25 per day and team at $3.50 per 

 day, and hand labor at 75 cts. and team at $3.00 per day, to be $75.80 

 and $54.30, respectively. The yield was about 16.25 tons per acre; but 

 for 1,000 lbs. of beets the loss of weight by removing the crowns was 

 73 lbs., and by washing off the dirt, 49 lbs., giving a yield of 15.1 tons 

 of marketable beets per acre. The beets contained 16 per cent of sugar 

 in the juice, with a coefficient of purity of 81. The average weight of 

 one beet was 12 oz. A portion of the land was fertilized with 250 lbs. 

 of sulphate of potash, 300 lbs. acid rock, 200 lbs. dried blood, aud 200 

 lbs. nitrate of soda per acre, which increased the yield about 6 tons per 

 acre over the unfertilized portion of the field. This increase is consid- 

 ered to pay for at least twice the amount of fertilizer used. 



Sugar beets in South Dakota, J. H. Shepard (South Dakota Bui- 

 56, pp. 32, map 1). — This bulletin discusses the resources and facilities 

 of South Dakota for the manufacture of beet sugar and gives a report 

 of the cooperative culture experiments with sugar beets for 1897. A 

 description of ten regions of the State, differing from each other in 

 vegetation and crop conditions, is given. Meteorological data for the 

 growing season of 1897, analyses of well water, chemical and mechan- 

 ical analyses of soils, aud the results of sugar beet experiments are 



