SUGAR-BEET 



131 



worked before the trials began, so that it was in good farming 

 condition. The seed (Vilmorin's White Green-top Brabant) 

 was sown in rows 17 inches apart, with 8 inches apart in the 

 rows. 



The following Table (XLVII.) shows the average results 

 for the four years 1898-1901. 



TABLE XLVII. Sugar-Beet, Second Series. Average produce per acre, and 

 Sugar per cent, and per acre in the Roots, 4 years (1898-1901). 



The results go to show that the land was initially in very 

 good condition, for very little increase of root is produced by 

 the use of the nitrogenous manures. Even in the fourth year 

 of the experiment the plot receiving no nitrogen still grew 

 nearly 13 tons of roots ; the nitrate produced no increase, and 

 the sulphate of ammonia an increase of 1 ton only. As a 

 nitrogenous manure, sulphate of ammonia was more effective 

 than nitrate of soda ; this is never the case with mangolds, but 

 the sugar-beet, growing smaller and more closely planted roots 

 than the mangolds, does not search the ground so deeply, and 

 derives more benefit from a manure like sulphate of ammonia, 

 which is held up near the surface. The proportions of sugar 

 obtained were not in any case high, and considering that no 

 very large crops were grown, the amount of sugar produced 

 and the low quotient of purity were disappointing. Probably 

 the land is too heavy and its situation too high and exposed 

 for a good result to be expected, save in rather exceptional 

 seasons. 



