FIELD CROPS. 35 



reported. Among 37 varietie8, Original Klein\vanzlel)ener produced the largest 

 amount of sugar per acre. The yield of beets for the different varieties varied from 

 5.62 to 15.72 tons per acre on heavy soil and from 9.54 to 15.54 tons on light soil. The 

 richest beets were o])tained from the heavy soil. The use of commercial fertilizers 

 did not increase the yield sufficiently to warrant their application. Of the different 

 fertilizers used, phosphate was most effective. Cultivating about 4 to 5 in. deep 

 gave the best results as compared with cultivating 2.} and 6 in. deep. The moisture 

 content of the deep and shallow cultivated plats is shown in a taljle. "Very deep 

 cultivation will, late in the season, interfere considerably with the fine lateral roots 

 of the beets, but in this climate of hot, dry summers with high winds the soil 

 mulch, in order to be effective, must be 3 or 4 in. thick." 



rianting in rows 18 in. apart, with 8 in. between plants in the row, gave Ijetter 

 results than planting at other distances. The results of early and late planting of 

 beets were not altogether conclusive, but the author believes that although good yields 

 may be obtained from late planting the chances of success are in favor of early plant- 

 ing. Late cultivation injured the beets and slightly lowered the sugar content and 

 purity, but an increase in yield made up for this loss. It was found that late culti- 

 vation had been very effective in conserving the soil moisture. Comparison of beets 

 grown on weedy and clean ground showed that weeds may very materially reduce 

 the quality of the beets. Analyses were made of a large number of samples to deter- 

 mine the effect of Avet weather during the latter part of the growing period on the 

 quality of the beets, and it was found that the percentage of sugar is rapidly reduced, 

 but that "unless the fresh growth is accompanied by buds upon the crown there 

 seems to be no real loss of sugar — the beets seem to increase in size and weight while 

 the sugar remains at a standstill." Surface applications of lime are reported as 

 effective in checking the Rhizoctonia rot and repeated spraying with Bordeaux mix- 

 ture as preventing leaf spot. The season's experience showed that sugar beets are a 

 drought-resisting crop. The cost of producing an acre of sugar beets is estimated at 

 $40.74. 



Sugar-beet investig-ations in 1901 , J. W. Ames ( Ohio Sta. Bui. 132, pp. 53-72). — 

 This bulletin briefly summarizes the results for 1901 and presents them in detail in 

 a series of tables. The results of variety tests in two different parts of the State were 

 in favor of Original Kleinwanzlebener, sh(jwing in the one case a sugar content of 

 13.6 per cent with a purity of 82, and in the other a content of 16 per cent of sugar 

 and a purity of 88. Of 216 samples of beets grown in cooperative tests, 194 came 

 from the northern section of the State and 22 from the middle section. The aver- 

 age results show a sugar content of 12.8 per cent and a purity of 81.2 per cent for all 

 these samples, and a sugar content cf 14.5 per cent with a purity of 85 per cent for 

 the samples from the northern section of the State, as compared with a sugar content 

 of 11.2 per cent and a purity of 77.5 for the samples from the middle section. 



Tests were made with different combinations of acid phosphate, sulphate of potash, 

 chlorid of potash, nitrate of soda, tankage, and barnyard manure as fertilizers for 

 sugar beets on yellow and black sand. On yellow sand the results on the fertilized 

 and unfertilized plats were practically the same. On l)lack sand the use of acid 

 phosphate applied alone increased the yield of beets by 260 lbs. per acre, while the 

 combination of phosphoric acid and potash and the application of a complete 

 fertilizer increased the yield bj^ 3,980 IVjs. and 8,070 lbs. per acre, respectively. 



Variety tests of sugar beets, J. J. Vanha {Ztschr. Landw. Versuchsiv. Oesterr., 4 

 {1901), No. 7, pp. 779-802).— A test of 6 varieties of sugar beets is reported. The 

 method of growing the beets is described and the mechanical and chemical analyses 

 of the soil are given. The results are tabulated in detail and the merits of the differ- 

 ent varieties are discussed. This being the first year of the test, no definite conclu- 

 sions are drawn. 



Iiarge and small seed balls in sugar-beet culture, B. Pkochazka {Ztschr. 

 Landir. Versuchsiv. Oesterr., 4 {1901), No. 11, pp. 1061-1066). — The results of com- 



