172 SUGAR BP:ET in south AFRICA. 



and Knysna. in order to ascertain the possibility of growing on 

 a large scale sugar beet yielding sufficient sugar to warrant the 

 erection of a mill. Planting was commenced about the middle of 

 August and continued during September, in order to ascertain 

 the most favourable time for planting. In addition to distri- 

 buting the seed amongst farmers, Mr. Edmeades personally put 

 an acre of his own lands in the (jeorge Division under beet during 

 August, and another acre during September. 



Towards the end of February, 1916, Mr. Edmeades fur- 

 nished for analysis four lots of six beets, each representing foiir 

 varieties of beet sown by him six months previously on his farm 

 " Kraaibosch," 2^ miles south-east of George Town Hall. The 

 soil had been fertilised by means of sheep-kraal manure, potas- 

 sium chloride, and 300 lb. of basic slag per acre. The varieties 

 of sugar beet grown were: — 



L French very rich white 



II. V'ilmorin A. 



III. Vilmorin B. 



IV. Klein Wanzelebener. 



The exjiorters claimed that No. 4 is capable of yielding 18 

 to 20 tons of beet per acre, with a sugar content of from 14 

 per cent, upwards. 



The average weights of the beets taken in February were 

 as follows : — 



I. 3 lb. 55/2 oz., or 1517.9 grammes. 

 II. 3 lb. I oz., or 1390.6 grammes. 

 III. 2 lb. 1254 oz.. or 1254.6 grammes. 

 l\'. 3 lb. o oz., or 1359.9 grammes. 



In each of these classes the beet nearest to the average 

 weight of the class was taken and divided into two portions; 

 one portion (a) re]:»resenting all the external part of the beet 

 to a thickness of approximately one inch, while the other portion 

 (b) represented the inside part after removal of (a). Each of 

 these portions was then separately mashed up and analysed. The 

 following results were thus obtained: — - 



Cane Total sugar 

 Sugar (calculated 

 Class. Weiglit VV'ate'' Ash (Sucrose) as Sucrose) 



(grammes), percent, percent, percent. percent. 

 \j^ , j So. 90 1.4,^ 14.44 15.87 



( ' "1 83.46 I .50 14.44 ^5-^^ 



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