REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 341 



CONCLUSION. 



The results of tliis season's work at Magnolia have been very satis- 

 factory. The yield of sugar per ton was the largest in the history of 

 the plantation. The yield per acre was exceedingly small. 



The results of the work of the sugar-house_were verv encouraging, 

 and were such as to warrant a large expenditure for improvements 

 in the plantation. 



ANALYSIS OF SUGAR BEETS. 



A large number of samples of sugar beets have been received from 

 various parts of the country grown from seed sent out by the Depart- 

 ment. The great variation in the content of sucrose in these samples 

 shows the Wonderful effect of soil, climate, and method of cultivation 

 in the quantity of sugar which the beet contains. 



From the appearance of the samples received it was evident that 

 the greater number of those who had grown the beets were ignorant 

 of the princiDles of agriculture on which the growth of a beet rich in 

 sugar depends. The object in view seems to have been to produce a 

 large beet, and many of the samples received were of a size far above 

 that which indicates the xjroduction of large quantities of sugar. 



To secure the best results the number of beets grown on each square 

 yard should not be less than seven or eight. By judicious crowding 

 the overgrowth of the beet is prevented, and the sugar is stored in 

 the tuber instead of being used up in the life processes of the plant. 



The beets sent by Joseph M. Hart, of Oswego, IST. Y., have the ap- 

 pearance of having been grown in accordance with the above princi- 

 ples, and they afforded the only sample which reached the standard 

 of a profitable sugar-making plant. 



The low percentage of sucrose inAjfe samples sent from the Middle 

 and Southern States shows the f ollS^T^ trying to grow the sugar beet 

 in any parts of our country except those pointed out in Bulletin No. 5 

 of this division, viz, the Pacific slope and along our ISforthern borders. 

 Following are the descriptions of the samples analyzed and a table 

 of the results obtained: 



DESCRIPTION OF SAMPLES. 



Serial No. 



Sugar beet from K. P. Flinn, Woodville, Miss 4486 



Sugar beet from M. S. Douglas, Fort Smith, Ark 4488 



Sugar beet gi-own on stiff clay soil, from J. T. Henderson, Palmetto, Ga 4490 



Sugar beet grown on red clay soil, weight 841 grams, from Mrs. T. F. Astin, 



Palmetto, Ga 4491 



Sugar beet grown on stiff red soil, weight 472 grams, from J. M. Terry, Pal- 

 metto, Ga 4493 



Sugar beet gi'own on clay soil, weight 973 grams, from J, H. Watkins, Pal- 

 metto, Ga 4493 



Sugar beet grown on clay soil, weight 972 grams, from J. H, Watkins, Pal- 

 metto, Ga 4494 



Sugar beet grown on clay soil, weight 648 grams, from J. H. Watkins, Pal- 

 metto, Ga 4495 



Sugar beet grown on sandy loam, "weight 872 grams, from Thomas Varnes, 



Palmetto, Ga 4496 



2 sugar beets grown on fine loamy clay, weight 688 grams, from Mr. INIilles, 



Palmetto, Ga 4497 



White sugar beet from Williaiu Cleveland, Thornton, Tex 4571 



AVhite sugar beet from William Cleveland, Thornton, Tex. (beet shc-t and 



stumpy) 4573 



Sugar beets, very large, short, from V. D. Hannah, Weiser, Ind 4645 



