83 



Maryland. Only two samples were received from this State, both 

 from Prince George County. The mean content of sugar was 7.36 per 

 cent and the mean weight of the beets 16 ounces. 



Michigan. Fifty samples were received from the State of Michigan, 

 representing twenty-one counties. The average percentage of sugar in 

 the beets was 12.64 and the average weight of beet 32 ounces. The 

 results from the State are very encouraging. Allegan County leads the 

 list of counties with a percentage of sugar in the beet of 16.34 and an 

 average weight of beet of 20 ounces, obtained from three samples. 

 Osceola County comes next with an average percentage of sugar in the 

 beet of 15.40 and an average weight of beet of 25 ounces. Next comes 

 Gratiot with four samples, with an average of 14.36 per cent of sugar 

 in the beet and an average weight of beet of 20 ounces. The number 

 of samples from any one county is not large, yet on the whole the re- 

 sults show that Michigan is particularly well adapted to the growth of 

 sugar beets of high quality. 



Extensive experiments were conducted in Michigan by Dr. R. C. Kedzie, chemist of 

 the Agricultural Experiment Station, during the season of 1891. The results are 

 published in Bulletin 82 of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. 



The tabulation of the results is made by districts. The western district, consisting 

 of five counties, reported an average of 15 tons of beets per acre, with a sugar 

 percentage in the juice of 14.23. The southeastern district, consisting of four 

 counties, reported an average of 16.5 tons per acre and an average percentage of 

 sugar in the juice of 13.52. The central district, consisting of four counties, reported 

 an average of 13 tons per acre and 14.33 per cent of sugar in the juice. The north- 

 eastern district, consisting of three counties, reported an average of 15 tons per acre 

 and 13.29 per cent of sugar in the juice. 



Dr. Kedzie states that from the standpoint of the manufacturer the outlook is 

 promising. An average of nearly 14 per cent of sugar and a coefficient of purity of 

 above 80 renders the prospect of making sugar at a profit extremely flattering. He 

 advises investors to be slow about establishing a sugar factory and to consider all 

 the problems connected therewith before investing their money. This is certainly 

 very good advice. 



It is announced that the station will not undertake further experiments in the dis- 

 tribution of beet seed and the investigation of the subject of sugar-making, and this 

 is certainly a subject of regret. With such promising results as have been obtained 

 by Dr. Kedzie, there are certainly very good reasons for going ahead and making a 

 thorough study of the State in regard to its sugar-producing properties. 



The total number of samples examined was 229, and the mean results of the average 

 weight, average percentage of sugar in the juice, and average coefficient of purity 

 are as follows : 



Grams. Ounces. 



Average weight of beets 992. 25 35 



Per cent sugar in juice 13 79 



Purity coefficient 86. 30 



These results are certainly of the most encouraging character. The content of 

 sugar is remarkably high when the overweight of the beets is taken into considera- 

 tion. 



Minnesota. Forty-one samples were received from the State of Min- 

 nesota from eighteen counties. The average per cent of sugar in the 

 was 12,38, average weight of 29 ounces. The county showing the 



