EXPERIMENTS WITH SUGAR BEETS IN 1891. 



The experiments conducted by the Department of Agriculture during 

 the season of 1891 maybe divided into three classes: (1) Culture of the 

 sugar beet conducted by farmers hi different parts of the country 5 (2) 

 culture of the sugar beet conducted by the Agricultural Experiment 

 Station of Wisconsin and numerous fanners in Wisconsin, under the 

 direction of the Agricultural Experiment Station of that State, by au- 

 thority of the Secretary of Agriculture; (3) experiments conducted at 

 the beet-sugar experiment station of the Department located at Scliuy- 

 ler, Nebraska. 



EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED BY FARMERS IN DIFFERENT PARTS 



OF THE COUNTRY. 



To meet the numerous demands for samples of sugar-beet seed re- 

 ceived by the Department, 5J tons of the best varieties of sugar beet 

 seed were purchased. Four tons of this consisted of equal portions of 

 Kleiuwauzlebener seed, grown by Dippe Brothers, of Quedlinburg, 

 Germany, and Vilmorin's improved beet seed, growu by Vilinorin, 

 Audrieux et Cie., of Paris, France. The other ton and a half consisted 

 of Desprez, Leinaire, and Simon Legrand varieties, obtained from Mr. 

 Henry T. Oxnard. 



The beet seed was put up iu packages averaging nearly 13 ounces each, 

 making 15,000 packages. These were widely distributed, being sent to 

 about 5,000 addresses. Many of those requesting several packages of 

 seed made a subdistribution of them; so it is but fair to suppose that 

 between 7,000 and 8,000 farmers received seed directly from the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture for experimental purposes. 



Accompanying each package of seeds was a Farmers' Bulletin No. 3, 

 containing full directions for the planting and cultivation of the beets. 

 There were also sent to each one receiving a package of seed directions 

 for taking samples of sugar beets for analysis and forwarding them to 

 the Department. These directions were as follows : 



DIRECTIONS FOR TAKING SAMPLES OF SUGAR BEETS FOR ANALYSIS. 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



Washington, D. C., July 1, 1891. 



When the beets appear to be mature (September 15 to November 15, according to 

 the latitude and time of planting) and before any second growth can take place, 

 select an average row and gather every plant along a distance which should vary as 

 follows, according to the width between rows: 



7 



