The Progress of the Beet Sugar Industry Nitrate of 



. Soda for 



in America. Sugar-Beets 



From Report No. 80, 49 



U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



Page i75> 



The work of Professor C. O. Townsend, of the 

 Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States Department 

 of Agriculture, which has recently been published in 

 Secretary Wilson's Report for the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, concerning the use of Nitrate of Soda 

 on sugar-beets is of great interest and is as follows : 



" Nitrate of Soda has a decided effect in increasing the value of beets 

 per acre. This experiment has been repeated several times with similar 

 results under varying conditions. It seems, therefore, that Nitrate of Soda 

 is beneficial as a fertilizer for sugar-beets under ordinary circumstances. A 

 little better results were obtained by putting the Nitrate on in two applica- 

 tions, as shown in plat 4, although when 300 pounds of Nitrate were applied 

 at one time the results were almost as good. The cost of the 300 pounds 

 of Nitrate, including its application, was approximately $9.00, so that in all 

 cases where Nitrate was used a decided financial gain resulted. It should be 

 noted, also, that the Nitrate did not apparently affect the sugar content nor 

 the purity of the beets. In a few cases where larger quantities of Nitrate 

 were used the results were not appreciably better than when only 300 pounds 

 per acre were applied. Whether or not this is a general rule can be deter- 

 mined only by repeated experiments." 



The great and growing interest now N . . tc , 



p 1- r i_ Nitrate of Soda 



taken in the subject or raising beet sugar in c c D 



, . i rxr- c for Sugar-Beets. 



this country makes the use or Nitrate or 



Soda on this crop of special interest, for it is only by the judi- 

 cious use of this fertilizer that we can hope to compete with 

 the best growers of Europe who have long profited by its use. 



Nitrate should be used only in connection with super- 

 phosphate and potash, and should be applied early in the 

 growth of the beet as soon after they come up the better; 

 200 to 300 pounds of Nitrate per acre is about the quantity 

 that should be used. About 300 pounds of superphosphate 

 and 100 pounds of sulphate of potash should be applied 

 per acre before sowing the seed. 



J. E. W. Tracy, of the Bureau of Plant Industry of the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture, says in Farmers' Bulle- 

 tin No. 251 : 



