117 



was harvested, prepared as if for the factory and carefully weighed. 

 At the same time the saccharine richness of each sample was to be 

 determined. For this purpose no selection was made in regard to the 

 beets, but each one was taken as it grew in the row until a certain 

 number was selected, and each of these beets was analyzed separately. 

 In the same plat an additional number of samples was taken in groups 

 of ten, and each sample of ten beets was submitted to a separate exami- 

 nation. In this way the character not only of the individual beets was 

 determined, but also the general character of the whole plat, being taken 

 in groups of ten. Over 100 analyses per day were made from the time 

 of the beginning of the harvesting, early in September, until the close 

 of the analytical work in November. The results of these analyses are 

 sufficiently set forth in the tables which accompany the report, and the 

 details will not be mentioned here. 



Attention, however, should be called to the fact of the great varia- 

 tion which will be noticed in individual beets, amounting to even as 

 much as 2 or 3 per cent, in the quantity of sugar which they contain. 

 It may be stated, therefore, that the results are given upon the compo- 

 sition of the expressed juice, as with so large a number of analyses it 

 was impracticable to determine the sugar in the pulp of the beet itself. 

 Inasmuch as the beets, however, were all submitted to analysis directly 

 after they were harvested, so that no opportunity was given for loss by 

 evaporation, it may be assumed that the percentage of sugar in the 

 iuice multiplied by 95 will give approximately the total quantity of 

 sugar present in the beets. 



In addition to the analytical work a careful selection was made of 

 the different varieties of beets to be preserved as mothers. For this 

 purpose the whole of the remaining plat, after the analytical data were 

 obtained, was harvested and the beets selected for mothers which 

 showed a normal size of from 500 to 600 grams and a perfect outline. 

 All beets varying from normal size were rejected, as likewise were all 

 of irregular surface, multiple roots, or deformed beets of any descrip- 

 tion. These beets were very carefully harvested and handled, the 

 leaves only being cut away without injuring the attachment of the 

 leaves to the stems of the beet, and were carefully preserved in silos. 



In order to determine the character of the beets preserved in the silos, 

 representative samples of mothers were taken for analysis and their 

 weight and content of sugar determined. Another portion of exactly 

 similar beets, as nearly as possible, was carefully weighed and sepa- 

 rately preserved in the silo. The object of this was to determine in the 

 spring the loss in weight which the beets might have experienced 

 during the winter, and then, by determining the sugar in the samples 

 thus preserved, any changes which the beets might have undergone in 

 the silo can be determined. This, then, can be used as a standard in 

 judging of the character of the mother beets when analyzed for 

 planting. 



