547 



land about 6 mCiiths and is practically always manured with 

 nitrate of soda which greatly increases the yield " (Foaden, 

 "Note on Egyptian Agriculture," in U.S. Dept. Agric. Bur. PI. 

 Ind. Bull. No. 12, 1904, p. 46), Dahomey, as a vegetable and 

 forage plant (L'Agric. prat, pays chauds, ii. 1902-03, p. 29), and 

 British East Africa-^Govt. Exp. Farm, Kabete, Nairobi, where 

 experiments have been made with the varieties ' ' Mammoth 

 Long Bed Mangold "—planted April 23rd, harvested Nov. 4th, 

 approx. jdeld 64 tons per acre ; " Golden Tankard Mangold " and 

 " Yellow Globe Mangold "-^planted Nov. 19th (1912), harvested 

 May 30th (1913), approx. jdeld 38| and 46 tons respectively; 

 " Sugar Beet," planted and harvested same dates as the two 

 foregoing, approximate yield 23^ tons per acre. The report of 

 the Government Analyst on sample foots : Weight of topped 

 root 5 lb. 7|- oz. ; Sugar in root 13-9 per cent., Sugar in juice 

 15-27 per cent.. Juice purity 77 per cent. Another root weighing 

 5 lb. 12| oz., gave for sugar in root and juice and juice purity 

 approximately 1, 2 and 3 per cent, lower than the above. It is 

 important in experiments of this nature to know what to aim 

 at and the further report is accordingly quoted in full 



Considering the great size of these roots" the sugar content is 

 very satisfactory indeed. Small roots are usually richer than 

 large ones — manufacturers prefer roots of 1| lb. to 2 lb. 

 weight and this size is obtained by growing the plants closer 

 together in the Hnes and by having the drills as narrow as is 

 compatible with cleaning operations. In this way a heavier 

 crop is obtained and as the sugar content woidd almost certainly 

 go up to 16 per cent, a much greater weight of sugar per acre is 

 grown. The juice purity is another important factor which 

 can be influenced by cultivation. If the plants are encouraged 

 to make too much growth the juice purity — the proportion of 

 sugar in the total soHds of the juice— is lowered. This affects 

 the value of the beet to the manufacturer as it increases the 

 work of purification. A juice purity of 80 per cent, is usually 



looked for." (Ann.- Rep. Dept. Agric. B. E. Africa, 1912-13, 

 p. 112). 



As a further indication of the probable success with Sugar- 

 Beet in the Tropics, experiments in Hawaii — an important source 

 of cane sugar — have shown that the beets raised (in Lanai 

 Island) are very rich in sugar, and that with the aid of artificial 

 irrigation it was hoped that 60,000 tons of sugar would be 

 produced on this island, for many years uncultivated because of 



drought 



IntelHg. Rome, Nov. 1910, p. 71), 

 Tampico is reported to be admirably 

 3, the vield of which is much hieher 



than that in the United States (I.e. July 1911, p. 1650). 



Cuba — " Crimson Globe " attains market 



recommended 



sowing ; " Edmund 

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