92 



VARIETIES PLANTED. 



The following eleven varieties were planted on May 26 and 27 : Le Maire's Richest, 

 Simon LeGrande, Vilinorin, Kleinwanzleben, Bulteau Desprez, Desprez B. & R., La 

 Plus Riche, F. Kroemer, O. B. S. & Co., French, German. The first nine varieties were 

 obtained from Oxhard Beet Sugar Co., Grand Island, Nebr., and the two last varieties 

 from the United States Sugar Experiment Station at Schuyler, Nebr. In all, 183 rows 

 were planted. The length of each row was 190.6 feet, and the distance between each 

 row 30 inches ; the seed was planted thicker than last year ; after last thinning the beets 

 stood 4 to 6 inches apart in the rows. From 14 to 22 rows were planted of each vari- 

 ety, these being planted in the order given above, starting from the west end of the 

 plot. The plot was cultivated on June 10 and 11 with wheel hoe, June 15 with nar- 

 row tooth single cultivator, June 22 to 26 the plants were thinned and hoed and a 

 horse cultivator run through the rows. At this time the plants were about 3 inches 

 high. The horse cultivator was run through the rows again on July 2, 14, 31, and the 

 weeds in the rows were destroyed by hand hoeing July 20 to 23 and August 1. The 

 harvesting was done by plowing a furrow close up to the beets; after thus laying 

 them bare they were easily pulled and thrown in a pile. After all beets were thrown 

 in piles they were topped and drawn by team to the farm root-cellar, after having 

 first been weighed. A basketful of each load was taken out to be washed and the 

 per cent of dirt adhering to the beets thus obtained. 



The following gives the time spent in growing the crop of beets, and also the cost, 

 estimating the wages for a man 10 cents an hour, for man and horse 15 cents, and 

 man and team 25 cents per hour : 



Cost of growing a crop ofleetsfrom a S-acre field. 



Plowing and preparing the land (allowed) $2. 00 



Planting and cultivating the crop: 



304 hours' time for one man 30. 40 



22 hours, man and horse 3. 30 



Harvesting and hauling the crop : 



111 hours' time for one man 11. 10 



28 hours for man and team 7. 00 



Total 53.80 



From this field we obtained a little more than 14 tons of washed beets (as we shall 

 see presently), which would make the total cost of growing and harvesting a ton of 

 beets $3.76, allowing the tops, which yielded more than 4 tons from the plat, to pay 

 for rent of laud, the cost of seed, and wear of machinery. Last year our beets yielded 

 more than 20 tons per acre on an average. This yield may be considered slightly above 

 average for good laud and cultivator ; but if we take 15 tons as an average yield per 

 acre we get the cost of raising and harvesting I ton of sugar beets $2.46, assuming 

 the cost of harvesting and hauling the beets double the amount charged in the above 

 table. The average price per ton of beets during the past season was, in Nebraska, 

 $3.50, in California $4, in Utah $4.50. With the average price of $4 paid for the 

 beets the net income from one acre Would be $23. Doubtless the cost of growing the 

 crop could be considerably reduced by growing the beets on a larger scale, and by 

 the application of machinery that will successfully pull the weeds in the rows be- 

 tween the beets. On the other hand, the cost of hauling the beets would be larger 

 with a greater distance to the factory an item that would easily swallow up all profit 

 if the distance is too great. 



EXAMINATION OF BEETS GROWN AT UNIVERSITY FARM. 



The beets were sampled and analyzed September 26, 1891, and also at harvesting 

 time, October 26. Three beets were selected for analysis, washed and dried, a 

 quarter section of each beet cut and grated together, the pulp put in a bag, and the 



