FIKLD CROPS. 245 



Results of luialyses of sugar Inlets fioin plantings made weekly from April 13 to 

 June 5, inclusive, and sampled on alternate days from September 11 to November IG, 

 together w ith weekly averages of the same, are shown in a table. In these tests it 

 was observed that heavy rains and cloudy weather from October 14 to 25, lowered 

 the sugar content. Beets sampled the first week in November showed the highest 

 percentage of sugar. 



Beets stored in piles in the Held with sutlicient i)rotection to prevent freezing 

 weighed o,345 lbs. October 2(j, 4,055 lbs. November 27, and 4,478 lljs. December 31, 

 the total loss in weight amounting to 16.22 per cent. All varieties stored in this way 

 September 1 showed a gain in the ])ercentage of sugar, the average increase for the 

 different varieties l)eing 6 per cent. The loss in weight w as not commensurate with 

 tlie gain in the percentage of sugai-, f(jr during the first month of storing there was 

 an actual increase of 82^ lbs. of sugar or practically 14 per cent, while during the 

 second uKjutli the decrease in the sugar content was so great that the beets at the end 

 of the period showed a loss of 9.37 per cent. The average coefficient of jmrity for 

 the different varieties was 78 October 26, 80 November 27, and 72 at the close of the 

 experiment. 



Sugar-beet seed 1, 2, 3, and 4 years old showed practically no difference in vitality, 

 indicating that the seed is not injured when kept under favorable conditions. Soak- 

 ing the seed was of no advantage and proved an inconvenience in sowing with the 

 drill. A test of home-grown seed demonstrated the possibility of gi'owing sugar-beet 

 seed in that locality. Beets from seed accidentally sown in the fall gave promising 

 results and led to further experiments along that line. Imported seed gave better 

 results both as to sugar content and purity than commercial seed obtained from a 

 seedsman. 



The leaf curl of beets is discussed and several tests of diseased beets reported. The 

 sugar content in the beets affected with leaf curl ranged from 5 to 7^ per cent. In 

 studying the influence of the size of beets on the sugar content, it was found that in 

 every case except one the percentage of sugar in each variety increased as the size 

 decreased. The average difference between 32 oz. and 8 oz. beets was 2 per cent and 

 the 16 oz. beets were nearly | per cent richer than the 32 oz. beets. 



The influence of lack of plant food on the sugar beet {Dent. Landir. Presae, 

 29 [1902), No. 11, p. 84). — A summary of results is given. It is shown that an insuf- 

 ficient potash supply decreases the sugar content and when a large quantity of nitro- 

 gen is present the percentage of sugar in the beet sometimes drops to below 1 })er 

 cent and the beet itself has a tendency to become diseased. A small nitrogen supi)ly 

 undei- these same conditions produces a much richer and healthier beet. In connec- 

 tion with a lack of phosphoric acid the effect of nitrogen is not so marked. Lack of 

 potash increases leaf growth. A subnormal quantity of phosphoric acid jiroduces a 

 perfectly healthy beet with a fair sugar content and a subnormal nitrogen supply 

 ])roduces a healthy beet with a very high percentage of sugar. 



Green manuring- for sugar beets, II. Briem {Bl. Zuckerrubenbau, S (1901), Xufs. 

 9, })}). 1.jS-1S0; 10, pp. 153-159; 11, pp. 105-16S). — A general discussion of the sub- 

 ject in which the results o exjieriments in this connection are reviewed. 



The history of sugar-beet culture and beet-sugar manufacture with legis- 

 lation affecting the industry in France during the nineteenth century, J. 

 Helot [Lh ftucre <le hetterari' en Fraiivr dc ISOO a 1900; culture de la hettrr<ii;', Inihhilion, 

 technolixjie. Cambrai: Feniand and Paid Deligne, 1900, pp. 220, ph. 15). 



Experiments in cultivating Lugar cane, W. C. Stubbs {Louislann Sln.^. lUd. 00, 

 2. ser., pp. 780-802). — This bulletin presents a short treatise upon the principles 

 involved in the preparation and cultivation of the soil, and reports the results of 

 experiments in cultivatmg sugar cane carried on during the past few years. Previous 

 work in this line has been reported in a former Imlletin (E. S. R., 12, p. 438). 



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