44 



Experiments with Sugar-Beet. [april, 



In 1898 experiments in the growth of sugar-beet were carried 

 out on a somewhat large scale in Great Britain by a committee 

 of the Central Chamber of Agriculture, and 

 ^^^^ith^^^^ results were reported in this Journal 



Sug'ar-Beet. (Vol VI., June, 1899, p. 45). In view of the 

 interest which has been attracted to the 

 question it may be useful to recall that on the average of the 

 forty-seven cases of which detailed particulars were available 

 the mean yield of sugar-beet was 24*2 tons with leaf, and 16*3 

 tons without leaf ; the average quantity of sugar in 100 parts of 

 the juice, as reported by the analysts who examined the samples, 

 worked out to I5'65 ; the average quotient of purity was 85*19 ; 

 and the average quantity of sugar in 100 parts of the roots was 

 14*48. The view taken at that time was that in certain districts, 

 and in seasons when the climatic and other conditions were 

 especially f^ivourable for its growth, sugar-beet might be culti- 

 vated with advantage, provided the prices which could be 

 obtained for the produce were satisfactory. , 



Recently the question of sugar-beet growing has been again 

 discussed, and the Essex Education Committee have conducted 

 experiments to find the yield and quality of the beet grown on 

 typical soils and to compare some varieties. The results show 

 that beets have been grown equal to those produced in sugar- 

 making countries, but, as the report points out, " it does not 

 follow that even when this has been established beyond any 

 possibility of doubt that the undertaking is one which would 

 necessarily be a commercial success. The business side of the 

 question — the cost of production, the cost, under the local con- 

 ditions prevailing in the Eastern Counties, of working a factory, 

 and a host of similar points need careful and experienced 

 consideration." 



Experiments were undertaken at five centres, on plots one- 

 tenth of an acre in extent, which received in addition to a dress- 

 ing of farmyard manure 3 cwt. per acre superphosphate and 2 cwt. 

 per acre nitrate of soda. As it is held by some workers that 

 the sugar content is considerably increased by the use of sulphate 

 of potash, half the plots received in addition a cross-dressing of 

 sulphate of potash at the rate of 2 cwt. per acre. 



The plots were situated in every case in fields which had 



