FIELD CROPS. 345 



than 3 miles. On this basis the cost per acre is given as $50.50, and 

 the return, with a yield of 15 tons of beets per acre, at $4.50 per ton, is 

 given at $07.50. 



Several estimates by other persons are given for comparison. 



Seed development. — The process underlying the production of high- 

 grade beets is outlined. The "mothers" or plants retained for seed 

 should be smooth and regular in shape. They should weigh from 20 to 

 24 oz. and be selected from beets of the best quality. The leaves are to 

 be removed without injuring the neck and the roots ensiled during the 

 winter. In the spring the sugar content and the coefficient of purity of 

 each root having a specific gravity above a certain point are determined, 

 and the selected beets are then planted and a record kept of each beet. 

 The seed produced is used solely for the production of the seed of com- 

 merce in the fourth or sixth year from the parent. Experiments indi- 

 cate that domestic seed is better than foreign-grown seed. 



Manufacture. — The process of beet-sugar manufacture is described, 

 and illustrations of the machinery are given. In view of the elaborate 

 process and costly machinery, the author discourages the idea of pro- 

 ducing beet sugar on the farm, but points out the advantages of coop- 

 erative factories. It is estimated that sugar can be made in this country 

 at a cost of from 3 to 4 cts. per pound. 



Statistics. — Tables show the increase in the production of beet sugar 

 in the United States, the production and consumption of sugar in vari- 

 ous countries, and other interesting information on the subject. 



Report of field experiments with tobacco in Massachusetts, 

 1893-'96, C. A. Goessmann (Massachusetts Hatch Sta. Bui. 47, pp. 

 31). — Cooperative fertilizer experiments were carried on for 3 years 

 at Hatfield, Agawam, and Westfield, Massachusetts. Various fertili- 

 zer mixtures were used, containing in all cases 300 lbs. of potassium 

 oxid, 100 lbs. of nitrogen, and GO lbs. of phosphoric acid per acre in 

 available forms. One-fourth of the nitrogen was in the form of nitrates 

 of soda or potash, to make the nitrogen uniformly available during 

 early growth. Ingredients containing chlorin were excluded from all 

 fertilizers. In the field 10 plats were fertilized with commercial fertil- 

 izers and two with barnyard manure. 



The composition is given of the fertilizing materials used. 



The yearly results obtained with different fields are tabulated, and a 

 summary of the whole work is given. The yield, quality of ash, fire- 

 holding capacity, and the rank of the plats is reported. 



It is concluded that the different fertilizers affected the quality of the 

 crop more than the weight. 



Cotton-seed meal, linseed meal, and castor pomace, when used with 

 sufficient nitrate of soda or nitrate of potash to furnish one-fourth of 

 the nitrogen needed, proved equally good as sources of nitrogen for 

 tobacco. Nitrate of soda, used with acid phosphate or dissolved bone- 

 black, gave better results than nitrate of potash under similar condi- 



