368 Transactions.— Botany. 
examine these roots while they grew, and, if possible, to note the time at 
which they became matured, and on that account, the crop having been 
sown late, I received samples of the three varieties on the 8th February, result- 
ing as follows :— 
No. ae 1lb. 1oz.; percentage of sugar 8° ei 
$s rs = : = 2 
3. sae ee ee 
These sonks y were immature, ag con ieee Bia Sine were low. On 
the 26th March I received another parcel of the three kinds from the same 
estate, — as follows: 
o. 1.—Weight, : Ib. 2 0z.; percentage of sugar 10-55 
” ” ” AS = it: 4 
: 9 5 % - Bh | 
On the 7th of May I visited the ground and chose at of the three 
varieties which were still in the ground, rather overgrown with weeds and 
certainly having been left too long in the earth, the leaves still growing 
vigorously, the result no doubt of the late rains which had then been falling. 
Still they were fine roots, averaging from 1 to 3lbs. They had been planted 
too far apart, and much space had been lost and room given for weeds to 
accumulate in. Being rather pressed for time I was unable to make a 
separate examination of these roots, and therefore I treated them in the 
aggregate with a result of 12-79 per cent. of sugar. 
Finally, on the 29th August, 1 received samples of each variety fresh 
from the ground where they had still been allowed to remain, though fully 
four months had elapsed since they had reached maturity. These roots had 
“been growing vigorously, a large crop of young leaves shooting up at the 
expense of the sugar stored up in the root. The result of the analyses, 
though low, has surprised me at the amount even yet left in the roots. 
No. 1.—Weight, 2 Ibs. 9 ozs.; percentage of sugar 7°42 
- am Sota om : a ae =a si 
» 8,, 
Three of tis an of ah were forwarded hy ie ee to Dr. 
Hector, Wellington, for analysis, with the result appended. 
“* Results of Analysis—Three roots of Sugar-beet for sugar. Received 
13th September, reported on 23rd September, 1881. 
No. 1—Weight, 1 1b. 20z.; sugar percent. .. +. -- S42 
ee : wags” ules big ecas. ORee 
” 3.— 7 Pes 10 TT ar + Pay cei 6°94 
** These are fairly cas yields. “ W. Sxey.” 
In reference to the methods of analysis and the sampling of the roots, 
‘I may remark that in every case, to ensure a true average, I have 
‘imines. 
oo a well k 
NOs aoa mr oA on al EL Peas geen alias em, tA tanh fang eae c= ee ee re 
a 
