<f tin- influence of environment on thr sugar beet, I write to ask that in case you 

 delegate this work to one. of your assistants you inform me of that fact. In case you 

 take personal charge of it please let me know also, in order that I may have an 

 official record of the person immediately in charge. 



H. AV. AVlLEY, 



Those letter^ were also later addressed to the Virginia station at 

 Blackshurg. The responses showed that the following stations and 

 officials would take part in the work: 



Washington, I>. ('., (\. L. Spencer; Lafayette, Ind., II. A. Huston; Agricultural 

 College, Michigan, .1. D. Towar; Ames, Iowa, James Atkinson; Lexington, K\ .. M. A. 

 Scovell; (ieneva, X. Y.,(J. W. Churchill; Ithaca, X. Y., L. A.Clinton; Logan, I'tah, 

 John A. Widtsoe; Blacksburg, Va., AV. H. Alwood; Madison, Wis., R. II. Shaw. 



The work at the North Carolina station Avas temporarily abandoned, 

 owing to a change in the personnel of the station. 



On April 8, 1001, a final letter of instructions was sent out to the 

 stations above-named, which read as follows: 



Ai'KiL 8, 1901. 



lM-:\u SIR: I feel that it is scarcely necessary to make any suggestions in regard to 

 the methods of planting and cultivating the l>eets which you undertake to grow in 

 collaboration with this division. The seed, No. 5772 "special," you have probably 

 already received. If not, please let me know at once. 



Some time before sowing, preferably the previous autumn, the soil should be 



plowed to the usual depth of S or 5) inches, and subsoiled (\ inches deeper, making 



1 bed at least !." inches in depth. If the character of the soil warrants it, a 



deeper pli.wim:. even to \o or 1 I inches, and a subsoiling of 6 inches additional will 



be advisable. 



The sin-face of the soil should be reduced to a tine tilth, and be well harrowed 

 and stirred immediately before planting, so as to stop all growth of weeds which 

 may have been started. 



The rows should be is inches apart, and the seed be planted at the rate of about 

 L'.") pounds per acre. MI as to be sure of a good stand. If the soil be moist, the seed 

 should be covered to a depth..!' from one-half to 1 inch. If the weather be dry, 

 sliL'htly deeper planting may be advisable. 



-.on a- the plants an- growing vigorously they should be separated into clumps 

 by a hoe > inches in width, leaving the length of I! inches of beets in each hill. 

 When the beets ha\e a vigorous growth and begin to form the fourth leaf, they should 

 lie thinned to about one plant in each !> inches. Where vacancies occur in a row, 

 tran-plant carefully .-o as to have the number of plants indicated above. 



Ordinary surface cultivation is all that is required, taking care not to cover up 

 the beets at the first cultivation. 



In M-ndiii'_' the samples of soil, in accordance with previous instructions, do not 



' to send a history of the plot, so far as known. Complete cultural and 



r>|. .L'iral data in collaborat ion wit h the Weather Iliireaii should be kept and 



forwarded wit h t he samples. Franks for I'oru ardiiiLT samples and full instructions 



for harvesting and sampling will be sent later. It is earnest I \ requested that fre- 



quent anal\-es be made also at the station, so that the results of those analyses can 



be compared \\ith those which are made of beets sent here. 



Any question.- in regard to furt her detail- will I >e cheerfully answered. 



Respectfully, 



II. W. WH.KV, <"/ ,,*/. 



