AMERICAN BEET SUGAR. 21 



be found by adding up the mean temperature of each day from the date of sowing 

 to that of maturity. Normal heat for the beet is about 3,000 degrees C., and this 

 is spread over about six months. 



*2. For every 100 degrees heat the beet requires so much moisture : 



For first period of two months 0.6 inches 



For second period of two months 04 inches 



For third period of two months 0.4 inches 



And it is very important that these proportions of moisture to heat are in the 

 above order. 



The above gives a total for normal heat of i2^-acre inches for the crop. 



NOTE Accordingly an extra amount of moisture in soil when air is dry 

 would be beneficial. 



3. Beet seed to sprout requires about 120 C. units of heat, and soil must contain 

 from 7 to 17 per cent, moisture at depth of seed. It will sprout at a temperature 

 little above freezing to 35 degrees C. (94 degrees F.) Best temperature is 20 de- 

 grees C. (70 degrees F.) 



4. As for soil composition : 



a. Phosphoric acid is absolutely needed in sufficient quantity, and more in- 

 creases sugar. 



b. Magnesia appears next important to phosphoric acid. 



c. Lime next, and great quantities, and even up to 50 per cent is not 

 hurtful. 



d. Potash is needed, but soda can replace most of the potash, and it is said 

 with great advantage as regards purity. 



e. Nitrogen. Little is required, and much is decidedly hurtful to sugar pro- 

 duction." 



* [Dealing solely with beets grown by irrigation. ED.] 



CLAY SOIL NOT DESIRABLE. Clay soils without an admixture of loams are 

 objectionable, being hard to pulverize into a perfect seed-bed, unless taken at 

 just the right moment, and more difficult to keep loose and in high tilth, and still 

 more annoying in harvesting, owing to the tendency of the beet root to break 

 off in the tenacious soil, and also the persistency with which the clay sticks to 

 the root in such large quantities as to cause excessive tare at the factory. Loose, 

 friable soils, such as are classed as No. i corn or wheat land, ordinarily can be 

 classed as beet land; but beware of what is commonly known as "hard pan" 

 unless at a depth of seven to ten feet from the surface. Level lands are far more 

 desirable than hills for obvious reasons. It is always safest to have proposed 

 factory sites examined carefully by an expert, both as to soil for beet growing and 

 other important conditions. 



THE SEED. This is one of the important topics. Given scientifically produced 

 seed, good land, a fair climate, a good farmer and favorable conditions, and the 

 results will be perfectly satisfactory; but given seed of unknown pedigree, produced 

 in the same unscientific way most of our agricultural seeds are produced, with all 

 the conditions named in the first instance perfect, and your factory will suffer as 

 well as the farmer. This has been illustrated in many instances, and proven abso- 

 lutely true; not to the extent of causing a factory to fail, but the rejection of beets 

 by the factory because of low sugar content and still lower purity, to the total loss 



