480 



the summit of Pike's Peak. Acriditan frontalis, Thos., is quite abund- 

 ant on the wild suntioAver in Kansas. GuHpoda tcndulata, Thos., and 

 Pezotettix megacepliala, Thos., were collected from the cowcatclicr of 

 the locomotive, running- at usual speed, during- the trip through Ne- 

 braska. All are grasshoppers, with the exception of the first named. 



CHEMICAL MEMOEA]S"DA. 



The labratory of the Department is engaged upon several researches 

 of considerable importance and extent. The results of the weekly deter- 

 mination of chlorine and phosphorus in the grape vine and leaf will, when 

 duly completed, possess both a i^ractical and scientific value. The exami- 

 nation of some of the principal commercial fertilizers has been commenced, 

 with the intention to exhibit, at least partially, the condition of this man- 

 ufacture. The work will be fairly and accurately performed, and will 

 fully set forth the facts of each case. 



Among the analyses incidentally executed this month, a few jiossess 

 special interest. 



SrGAE-BEETS. — Messrs. Chafi'ee and Schreiner, of Denver, Colorado 

 Territory, lately sent to the Department specimens of sugar-beets raised 

 in that vicinity. They were of uuusual size, averaging 5 pounds 4 ounces 

 in weight, 18^ inches in length, and 14 inches in circumference two 

 inches below the collar. The substance of the root was compact, firm, 

 and perfectly white. The polarization process gave 14.50 per cent, of 

 sugar, several determinations yielding the same figures. 



Dr. JSTichols, superintendent of tbe Government Asylum for the Insane, 

 near Washington, furnished samples of beets grown on the farm attached 

 to that institution. They were of large size, remarkably well grown, 

 firm, and uniform in texture. Average weight, o jjounds 2 ounces ; length, 

 14 1-5 inches ; ciicnmference, loj inches. Sugar, i^er cent., 9.50. 



C. F. Hawley, esq., of Kansas City, Missouri, forwarded beets grown 

 in that region. Their weight averaged 2 pounds 4 ounces; length, llf 

 inches; circumference, 11^- inches; percentage of sugar, 6.75. These 

 beets were badly grown, small, unhealthy in texture, and very uneven 

 in ])oint of size. 



These results go to confirm the i^rediction alreadj^ made by the De- 

 partment, that the natural conditions of growth in the United States 

 are very generally favorable to the production of sugar-beet. The points 

 at which the experiments were made are sufficiently distant from each 

 other to represent much of the territory hitherto untried by this crop, 

 and the percentages of sugar obtained average higher than in most 

 European factories. 



Dr. Jellett lately reported from the model farm at Glasnevin, Ireland, 

 12.05, 9.50, 12.59, 11.02, and 12.43 per cent, of sugar. In Germany and 

 France the working average is less than 10. The second figure obtained 

 by Dr. J., (9.50,) was from beets which had not been earthed up, while 

 the others had been thoroughly cultivated ; and he claims that this 

 instance alone proves that direct solar influence is unnecessary for the 

 formation of sugar. 



A beet-sugar factory has lately been established in Black Hawk Val- 

 ley, Sauk County, Wisconsin, bj- a co-operative association of thirty -four 

 German farmers. Their first crop was a partial failure, but the success 

 of the enterprise seems now (from our meager reports) to be certain. 



