730 



Growing of Sugar Beet in Norfolk, [dec, 



hoed until the leaves grew so large as to be liable to damage 

 by the horse. They received two dressings of nitrate of soda, 

 about i cwt. each time. The cost of the hand-hoeing was 

 about 13s. to 15s. per acre, inclusive of the cutting out and 

 singling. 



The roots were lifted at the end of October and the begin- 

 ning of November, and this was really the worst and most 

 costly extra work the crop entailed. In the majority of cases 

 it was necessary to hold the leaves and lift them with the 

 help of a fork, and the cost was about 2s. per ton, or £1 to 

 £1 5s. per acre. They were then thrown into rows, topped, 

 and carted to the station. The general cultivation was in all 

 cases the same as usually practised in Norfolk with a mangold 

 crop, but the cutting out, singling, and lifting were more 

 expensive. 



The analysis below is a typical one picked out of five made 

 by Mr. Arthur Ling, F.I.C., F.C.S. 



The soil on which these particular roots were grown was 

 good mixed loam with sandy subsoil. The preceding crop 

 was wheat, turnips were thrown out, and sheep folded on the 

 land. Then 10 loads of farmyard manure were ploughed in 

 during the winter; the land was then ploughed twice, har- 

 rowed fine, and baulked up 24 inches. About 10 lb. of seed 

 were sown per acre, and 3 cwt. of superphosphate applied at 

 the time of sowing. The total yield of topped roots delivered 

 on rail was 12 tons 11 cwt. per acre. 



10 Roots Examined. 

 Average Weight of Root without leaves, I lb. 2 oz. 



Sugar in roots 167 per cent. 



Specific gravity of juice ... ... ... 18*5 Brix 



Sugar in juice 17*3 per cent. 



Non-sugar (apparent) in juice ... ... 1 "2 



Coefficient of purity (apparent) in juice ... 93*5 



The growers are very well satisfied that they can grow roots 

 of as good as or better quality than can be grown abroad, and 

 given favourable seasons can probably obtain a greater yield. 

 At the same time they are equally certain they cannot grow 

 for export at a profit. 



In this case the price was iys. 6d. per ton of 21 cwt. (allow- 

 ance of 1 cwt. for mould attached), free on quay for clean 

 roots, the seed being supplied free. This certainly seemed 



