36d 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. 1. — "Weight, 1 lb. 1 oz. ; percentage of sugar 8-90 



„ 2.— „ 1 „ 6 ,, „ „ 7.50 



„ 3.— „ „ 9 „ „ „ 8-38 



These roots were immature, and consequently the results were low. On 



the 26th March I received another parcel of the three kinds from the same 



estate, yielding as follows : 



No. 1. — Weight, 1 lb. 2 oz. ; percentage of sugar 10-55 



„ 2.— „ 2 „ „ „ 11-87 



„ 3.— „ 1 „ 7 „ „ „ 11-17 



On the 7th of May I visited the ground and chose samples 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 31bs. 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, I 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 lbs. 9 ozs. ; percentage of sugar 7-42 

 „ 2.— „ 2 „ 4 „ „ „ 6-47 



„ 8.— „ 3 „ 5 „ „ „ 8-65 



Three of this parcel of roots were forwarded by Mr. Graham to Dr. 

 Hector, Wellington, for analysis, with the result appended. 



" Results of Analysis. — Three roots of Sugar-beet for sugar. Eeceived 

 13th September, reported on 23rd September, 1881. 



No. 1. — Weight, 1 lb. 2 oz. ; sugar per cent. . . . . . . 8-42 



„ 2.— „ 1 „ 10 „ „ „ 8-01 



„ 3.— „ 2 „ 10 „ „ „ 6-94 



" These are fairly good yields. " W. Skey." 



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 punctured 



the root from crown to apex, taking the core for purposes of analysis, as it 



is a well known fact that the sugar is not found in equal proportions through- 



