SUGAR-BEET 127 



and 1 to 1 J cwt. of sulphate of potash per acre should be sown 

 in the drills before the seed is planted. If kainit is used as a 

 source of potash, it should be sown broadcast some time before 

 the land is got ready for planting. 



3. A little active nitrogen is generally also needed, 1 cwt. 

 of nitrate of soda as a top-dressing when the haulm is growing 

 or 1 cwt. sulphate of ammonia with the other manures at 

 planting time will be sufficient. . 



IV. EXPERIMENTS ON THE GROWTH OF SUGAR-BEET. 

 A. First Series, 1871-1875. 



The experiments made at Rothamsted with sugar-beet were 

 commenced in 1871 and continued for five years in succession 

 to 1875 inclusive. They were conducted on the land which 

 had been devoted to the continuous growth of root-crops 

 (Norfolk Whites and Swedes) from 1843 to 1870 ; excepting 

 that in the three years 1853-55 barley had been grown without 

 manure to equalise the condition of the plots as far as possible 

 before re-arranging them and the manuring. 



During the first three of the five years of sugar-beet the 

 arrangement of the plots and of the manures was substantially 

 the same as during the preceding ten years with Swedish 

 turnips and the subsequent years with mangolds. But during 

 the last two years of the five, neither farmyard nor any 

 other nitrogenous manure was applied; the object being to 

 determine the effects of the unexhausted residue of the nitro- 

 genous application during the preceding three years. The 

 description of sugar-beet grown was Vilmorin's "Green-top 

 White Silesian." In 1871 the seed was dibbled on ridges in 

 rows 26 inches apart, and 10 inches from plant to plant in the 

 rows ; in 1872 and subsequently it was dibbled on the flat, in 

 rows 22 inches apart, and 11 inches apart in the rows; the 

 plants being moulded up afterwards. The roots were all carted 

 off and weighed ; the leaves were weighed, spread on the 

 respective plots, and ploughed in. 



