THE IRRIGATION AGE 



95 



fall a large number of beets have been re- 

 ceived at the station from different parts 

 of the state, and their sugar contents de- 

 termined. No other experiment station in 

 the United States, excepting Nebraska, so 

 far as we are informed has attempted to 

 conduct such long continued experiments 

 with sugar beets, or grown experimental 

 crops for so many years in the state, as 

 has Indiana. Since 1888 inclusive, we 

 have had experimental plats of beets in 

 one or more parts -of the state. In 1890 

 there were eight of these, in 1891 thirty- 

 eight, in 1892 thirty-nine, in 1893 twenty- 

 seven, in 1894 forty-seven, in 1896 five, in 



1897 one hundred and forty-three. In 



1898 the station sent seed to 1,169 persons 

 over the state, while in 1899 and 1900 

 large amounts of seed were distributed, 

 which farmers agreed to grow under the 

 direction of the station. For years grow- 

 ers have planted one-eighth acre or more 

 of beets under our instructions. 



As a result of this work a great number 

 of samples of the beets from nearly 70 

 counties in the State have been received 

 at the station and their sugar contents de- 

 termined. We have now on our records a 

 large amount of information as a result of 

 these years of work, which is favorable to 

 the profitable production of sugar beets in 

 the northern third of Indiana on certain 

 soils suited to this crop. 



In consequence of all this work, the 

 station has decided to discontinue further 

 distribution of beet seeds to our people 

 and to largely curtail its sugar beet inves- 

 tigations. The station however, desires 

 to keep in touch with our sugar beet grow- 

 ers, and will be pleased to examine free of 

 charge all samples of beets sent us, under 

 station instructions, in the fall of 1901. 

 Farmers desiring to secure free seed for 

 further trial on their farms, can no doubt 

 obtain the same by applying to their con- 

 gressman during the winter of 1900-1901. 



Some time early in 1901 a bulletin will 

 be published by the station giving a record 



of the sugar beet work of this institution 

 during the past thirteen years, and the re- 

 sults attained. This will be mailed free 

 to any one desiring a copy of the same. 

 C. S. PLUMB, Director. 



THE CULTURE OF AMERICAN 

 GINSENG. 



The subject of growing Ginseng has re- 

 cently received so much attention from 

 the agricultural press of the country and 

 from circulars and pamphlets sent broad- 

 cast throughout the country by dealers, 

 that hundreds of people are being induced 

 to try its culture. 



Many of the articles are written by peo- 

 ple who have no personal knowledge of the 

 best way to grow it or of the profits to be 

 derived thereby, Others are written by 

 dealers who have seeds and plants to sell, 

 and in both instances as a rule the infor- 

 mation is second hand and unreliable. 

 The most extravagant figures are given 

 showing enormous yields produced on a 

 given acreage and Monte Cristo fortunes 

 to be made out of a paltry investment 

 while one loafs in the back yard watching 

 the gold dollars sprouting. 



Certain dealers have sent out figures in- 

 forming the public that $5.00 invested in 

 their seeds and plants will show a value of 

 $44,340.00 the fifteenth year. 



A million dollar bed in twelve years 

 from a $1000 investment is advertised on 

 another page. A value ivhich cannot be 

 obtained except perhaps in small quantities 

 is placed on the seeds and young plants 

 and the ratio of increase and loss is given 

 very accurately and more extravagantly on 

 paper. Can any of these versatile writers 

 plea?e inform us how many turnips can be 

 grown on a $5.00 investment in twelve 

 years, the price the roots and seeds will 

 bring each year and how rich a man will 

 be at the end of that period? Certainly 

 not and information pretending to figure 

 it out would be absolute nonsense. 



An article on Ginseng entitled "Valu- 

 able Farm Land" appeared in the St. 



