1910.] Growing of Sugar Beet in Norfolk. 729 



agricultural produce from the various producing centres to 

 their respective markets ; but the majority of the companies 

 have literature on the subject specially prepared, and this will 

 be sent on receipt of an application from anyone interested to 

 the General Manager of the company concerned. 



THE COMMERCIAL GROWING OF SUGAR BEET 

 IN NORFOLK. 



Walter E. Sawyer. 



Having this year superintended the growing of 53 acres of 

 sugar beet, for export for sugar manufacture, a few remarks 

 gained by observation of the various methods adopted by the 

 growers may be of interest. This trial was undertaken purely 

 from a commercial point of view on both sides, and in the 

 case of the growers they were not specially interested in 

 the result from any view but that of profit, they had not to 

 consider the analysis or size of roots, as the contract only 

 stipulated that the seed supplied should be sown and the 

 resulting crop delivered, and no restrictions were made as to 

 cultivation or artificial manures. Thus the farmers had an 

 absolutely free hand. 



The variety of seed supplied was " Kleimvauslebener, " and 

 the average yield was between 10 and 12 tons per acre of clean 

 topped roots weighed by rail weights as delivered. In the 

 case of those who really took an interest in the new departure 

 and grew the best crops, the land was generally such as would, 

 with proper attention and manuring, yield a good crop of 

 mangolds. About 10 to 12 loads of farmyard manure we re- 

 ploughed in after the wheat crop was removed, and the soil 

 was then ploughed twice in the spring, harrowed fine each 

 time, and then ridged in 20- to 24-inch baulks. The sowing 

 was done with the usual mangold drill, and as much seed put 

 on as it was possible to do with the drill by once drilling, 

 namely, about 10 lb. to 12 lb. per acre. Unfortunately 

 the seed was delivered rather late, and so the drilling did 

 not take place until the middle of May. The horse hoes 

 were kept going as soon as the rows were visible, and by 

 the middle of June the plants were cut out and singled about 

 9 inches apart. Then they were hand-hoed twice and horse- 



