121 



further, to note the behavior of the specified and well-established European vari- 

 eties in new conditions of soil and climate; and finally, to produce and select beets 

 of each of the named varieties for propagation uses. It may be found that the known 

 varieties can not sustain the high standard of their characteristics in the new con- 

 ditions to which they are being submitted, in which case it is considered that it will 

 be possible and necessary to breed from the old varieties, by select crossing, new 

 varieties which will be better adapted to the conditions and able to maintain a high 

 standard of excellence. 



In addition to the work on the large plats already described, a more minute plan 

 of experimentation was laid out and confined to plats each 4 square rods in size, upon 

 which three series of experiments were conducted : 



(1) Distance experiments, or experiments with the purpose of observing at what 

 distance the plants must bo placed from each other to obtain the maximum results, 

 expressed in weight of beets and sugar per acre. In the No. 1 plat the rows were 

 placed only 12 inches from each other. In the other five plats the distances between 

 the rows were respectively 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 inches. 



(2) Fertilizer experiments, or experiments in order to observe if any, and what, 

 effects were produced by the application of ranging amounts of superphosphate to 

 the beets in the virgin soil of Field A. The fertilizer was applied 



Plat 1 1 pound per rod, or 160 pounds per acre. 



Plat 2 1.5 pounds per rod, or 240 pounds per acre. 



Plat 3 2.0 pounds per rod, or 320 pounds per acre. 



Plat 4 3.0 pounds per rod, or 480 pounds per acre. 



Plat 5 4.0 pounds per rod, or 640 pounds per acre. 



(3) Time experiments, or experiments for the purpose of showing the results of 

 early and later planting, and to indicate the most advisable time for planting in such 

 soil and climate. The planting of the plats was done as follows : 



Platl , planted May 12. 



Plat 2 planted May 19. 



Plat 3 planted May 26. 



Plat 4 planted June 2. 



The preparation of the soil and seed bed of the small experimental plats was con- 

 ducted in the same way as in the example of the larger plats. The seed was put in 

 with a hand drill, the use of the horse drill beijg impracticable. The planting of 

 the No. 1 series was done on May 11; of the No. 2 series on May 12 and 13; and of 

 the No. 3 series as already given. 



May 15, light cultivation was commenced in Field B. A part of the seed of most 

 of the varieties had germinated and the plantlets were out of the ground sufficiently 

 to mark the rows. Although the ground was still practically free from weeds, flat- 

 hoeing was commenced, hoes Avith 8-inch blades being used, and the ground between 

 the rows was thoroughly hoed up to 1| inches of the plantlets. Most of the laborers 

 were green, and had not seen a beet field before; but a short time was enough 

 to show them the difference between taking long strokes and merely scraping the 

 top, and short strokes, by which the surface of the soil was thoroughly moved to a 

 depth of 1 to 2 inches. Also the need of keeping so far from the rows as not to 

 disturb the plantlets. 



A very notable difference was observable in the six varieties in respect of the ap- 

 parent vitality of the seed, as indicated by the per cent of seed which actually germi- 

 nated. The "Vilinorin" variety not only came up one to two days before the other 

 varieties, but almost the whole of the seed of that variety came up together. Next 

 to the " Vilmorin" the " filite" indicated the greatest vitality and soundness. Other 

 of the varieties not only required more time to make a first appearance, but the seed 

 kept coming up for five weeks even after a heavy rain, which indicated that seed 

 of various ages had been put together in the samples. The actual comparative 



