44 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



quality. It did not, however, prevent an absence of a stand in some spots. The 

 mechanical effect of the cut straw on the soil was nearly as great as that of the 

 manure, but in other respects was less effective. The second season the influence of 

 the manure was less evident, but, owing to soil conditions retarding its decay, the 

 percentage of sugar and the purity of the beet were affected about the same as dur- 

 ing the first season. The results corroborate the conclusions of 1897, that the 

 quantity of alkali in the soil of the plat had no injurious effect on the percentage of 

 sugar in the beet, and that it had no influence on the maturity. The average sugar 

 content of 1898 was 13.62 per cent and of the crop grown on alkali soil 13.65 per cent. 

 There was an increase of 4.9 per cent of dry matter in the beet in 1898 and of 3.8 per 

 cent in 1899 over the j^ercentage of dry matter in 1897. It is stated that beets weigh- 

 ing 2 lbs. or more are as rich as those weighing less than 1 lb. grown under the same 

 conditions. The fact that an increase in sugar at the time of ripening, oljserved in 

 1897, was not noticeable in these crops is attributed to differences in the seasons. 

 Beets grown ui a single row with several feet of space on either side were lower in 

 sugar content than beets of the same varieties grown in rows 20 in. apart. 



The chemical work done in this connection showed that continued cropping and 

 cultivation of the plat had slightly decreased the percentage of ash in the beet and 

 changed its composition, particularly lowering the percentage of chlorin. The per- 

 centage of pentoses in beet pulp after the extraction of the sugars was foimd to be 

 higher in beets rich in sugar than in beets of a low sugar content. It was found that 

 beets soaked for 7 days in water cooled by ice showed an actual increase in sugar 

 content. The leaves of the sugar beet were found to contain some glucose and mal- 

 tose, but very little sucrose. 



Influence of mineral fertilizers on the yield of sugar beets, P. Petrov 

 {SeM. Khoz. i Lijesov., 197 {1900), May, pp. 327-377).— The experiments here 

 described were conducted on the estates of P. I. Kharitonenko in the Kharkov gov- 

 ernment, Kussia. In studying the influence on the yield of sugar beets of calcium 

 superphosphate, waste products from beet-sugar factories, and a mixture of these 

 two substances when applied as fertilizers, it was fomid that the mixture gave the 

 best results as to quantity and quality. The results further showed that a large 

 ai:)plication of calcium superphosphate improved the quality of the beets, while a 

 small application lowered it. The author explains this result by stating that phos- 

 phoric acid has a deteriorating influence on the quality of sugar beets, while lime 

 has the opposite effect, and that in heavy applications the beneficial influence of the 

 lime overcomes the injurious effect of the phosphoric acid, while in light applica- 

 tions this is not the case. 



Notes on sugar beets for 1899, R. H. McDowell {Nevada Sta. Bui. 50, p. 

 13). — This bulletin contains a report on several cooperative culture tests with sugar 

 beets in Nevada. The possi]:)ilitilies of growing sugar beets in the State and of 

 establishing sugar factories is considered. 



Sugar-beet culture in Wisconsin during 1899, F. W. AVoll {Wisconsin Si a. 

 Rpt. 1900, pp. 239-256, figs. 3, map 1) . — The work with sugar beets for 1899 con- 

 sisted of analyses of samples grown by farmers in different parts of the State, and of 

 variety and fertilizer tests with sugar beets made at the university farm. The 

 results of all analyses and the meteorological data for the season are given in tables. 

 The results of analyses for the years 1890 to 1899 are arranged b}' counties and 

 further indicated on a map. 



The analyses of 178 samples of beets from 56 counties show an average of 14.68 per 

 cent of sugar in the juice, with a purity of 80.5 per cent. The average weight 

 of topped beets in the samples was 1.34 lbs., and the average yield i^er acre 16.1 

 tons. 



The experiments at the university farm show a depressing influence of an apjilica- 

 tion of 20 tons of barnyard manure per acre on the quality of the beets, and an 

 improvement in the quaUty due to a special fertilizer containing phosphoric acid and 



