540 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Sugar-beet investigations, J. D. Towar {Michigan Sta. Bui. 179^ 

 pp. 93-llo,ji<js. 6). — These inve.stij^ations include fertilizer experiments 

 with beets on different soils ;it the station and in cooperation with 

 farmers in different parts of the State, variet}^ tests, and trials of plant- 

 ings at different dates. 



Subsoiling is shown to be practicable and not so difficult as is usually 

 supposed. Spring subsoiling for beets proved disastrous at the station 

 in 18!>0, as the ground did not regain a sufficient amount of moisture 

 to sui)port the crop. 



In a fertilizer test at the station on sandy soil of medium fertilit}'^, 

 cow manure, salt, ashes, lime, hen manure, complete fertilizers, and a 

 commercial l^rand of sugar-beet fertilizer were used, besides various 

 single elements applied alone and combined in two's. The details of the 

 results obtained are tabulated. On the plats receiving the lime a slightly 

 greater development of leaf was observed than occurred on the unlimed 

 plats. At harvest time an average increased yield of 1,210 lbs. of 

 beets per acre was obtained on the limed plats, while the percentage 

 of sugar remained practically the same. There was a slight decrease 

 in the percentage of purity. In this and other experiments at the 

 station nitrate of soda has proved superior to sulphate of ammonia for 

 sugar beets as regards yield, sugar content, and purity. Beets on 

 plats fertilized with nitrate of soda in this experiment germinated 

 earlier and made a greater development all through the first half of the 

 season than on any of the other plats. 



Fertilizer experiments were also conducted on thoroughly subdued 

 and well drained muck land at the station, using nearh' all of the fer- 

 tilizers noted above. During the season the l)eets seemed to suffer 

 more from drought on this muck soil than on heavier land, while at 

 harvest time they were apparently making stronger growth than at any 

 previous period. It is thought that if the season had been prolonged 

 a month good yields of beets would have been obtained. The highest 

 yield, 23,81-4 lbs., was obtained on the plat fertilized with unleached 

 wood ashes at the rate of 1 ton per acre. The use of potash regularly 

 resulted in increased yields. An injurious effect seemed to follow 

 the use of phosphoric acid. Applications of a layer of sand proved 

 especially valuable on this soil. The use of lime resulted in decreased 

 yield, and in beets having a low sugar content and purity. 



In culture experiments at the station plantings of beets wepe made 

 weekly from April 22, when the soil temperature was about 50° F., to 

 May 27. There was a decided advantage as regards yield in favor of 

 the earlier plantings, while the sugar content svas slightly higher and 

 the percentage of purity averaged 3 per cent higher. The author 

 considers it safe and wise to plant beets as early in the spring as any 

 other farm crop. 



In order to determine the effect of fall growth of beets samples 



