542 Official Circulars and Notices. [oct., 



with convenience of cultivation, is to be obtained by growing in rows on the 

 flat 15 to 1 8 in. apart. This is better than growing on ridges. The analyses 

 showed that the sugar content of the beet grown on medium to strong loam 

 was high, but that of beet grown in " carr" (peaty) land was, in some cases, 

 abnormally low; 



Growth of Sugar Beet {Essex Education Committee, Field Expts., 1906). 

 — The experiments made in the previous year were continued at one centre. 

 The average yield of four varieties was 22 '3 tons as compared with 20 tons 

 in 1905 ; but the percentage of sugar in the beet was only 14*9 compared 

 with 14 "3. This loss was to some extent compensated for by the larger 

 yield, and the total sugar averaged 3 tons 6\ cwts. compared with 3 tons 

 9^ cwts. in 1905. Cooper's Selected, Kleinwanzleben and Vilmorin's Improved 

 again proved the best sugar yielders. 



Growth of Sugar Beet {Cambridge Univ. Dept. oj Agric, Guide to Expts., 

 1907). — Several experiments were carried out in 1905 and 1906. (1) Four 

 varieties were tested on light soil in Hunts in 190$. Vilmorin's Improved 

 yielded 20 tons per acre with 18 per cent, of sugar, and Kleinwanzleben 

 18 tons with 18 per cent, of sugar. (2) A similar experiment was made on a 

 stiff loam soil in Hunts, but the crop did not start well owing to the dry 

 season, and never recovered. On this soil great difficulty was experienced 

 in harvesting, the larger roots having to be dug out with draining spades. 

 It would obviously be impossible to grow ordinary sugar beet with any 

 chance of profit on a clay soil. (3) In 1906 Vilmorin's Improved White and 

 Kleinwanzleben were sown and cultivated in the same way as a mangold 

 crop on a peaty soil at Ramsey, Hunts, and on silt at Outwell, Norfolk. A 

 yield of 23 tons was obtained on the peaty soil, but the quality was very poor. 

 Peaty soils are regarded as unfit for beet growing on the Continent. The 

 quality was satisfactory on the silt. (4) Experiments were carried out in 



1905 and 1906 at Histon, Cambs., to test the effect of various manures on 

 the yield and composition of sugar beet. On this rich soil the manures 

 produced no great effect either on weight or composition in 1905 ; but in 



1906 the omission of sulphate of ammonia from the complete mixture 

 appeared to produce a marked effect on the yield. When this was replaced 

 by nitrate of soda the plants were later in ripening, and the quality of the 

 beet was depreciated. 



OFFICIAL CIRCULARS AND NOTICES. 

 The following memorandum, which is being issued as a 

 leaflet, has been prepared chiefly for the information of the 

 local authorities concerned in the administration of the Small 

 Holdings Acts, but it will also be useful to applicants for small 

 holdings and other persons interested in the Acts. 



A "small holding" for the purposes of the Small Holdings Acts, means an 

 agricultural holding which is more than one acre and not more than fifty acres in 

 extent. Its area may, however, exceed fifty acres, if its 

 The Administration annua ^ va l ue for the purposes of income tax is not more 



of the Small than ^ 5 °' 



The local authorities directly responsible for the provi- 

 HOlaingS Acts. s i on 0 f small holdings under the Acts are the County 

 Councils and the Councils of County Boroughs. 



