191 1.] The Cultivation of the Sugar-beet. 



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drought, the crop again growing and increasing its sugar 

 content after good rains. The needs of the sugar factories 

 must also be considered, and the earliest crops frequently 

 realise in France is. to 2s. per ton more than the later ones. 

 As a rule harvesting is commenced towards the end of 

 September or at latest the first week in October. Not only is 

 it necessary to harvest before frosts occur, but in time for the 

 sowing of the wheat crop to be put in hand. In order to meet 

 the various requirements it is found useful to sow different 

 varieties of sugar-beet possessing unequal powers of growth 

 and ripening. 



The crop may be lifted by hand labour with the aid of a 

 special spade or two-tined fork, according to the soil and 

 variety of sugar-beet grown. On the Continent this method 

 is chiefly followed, but special horse implements lifting one 

 or three rows at a time are also used, while another type of 

 machine lifts, tops, and cleans the sugar-beets, depositing 

 them in a row on one side. Lifting must be carefully done 

 so that the skin is not broken, or loss of sugar will occur. 

 Topping must also be carefully carried out; if the tops are 

 removed too deeply the grower will lose weight in delivering 

 to the factory, while if too shallow the tare deductions at the 

 factory will be increased. For a similar reason sugar-beets 

 should be delivered as clean as possible. The tops should be 

 removed at the point whence the lowest leaves spring. 



Yield. — As in the case of other farm crops, the yield of 

 sugar-beets varies with soil, manuring, general treatment, 

 and local climatic conditions. In France the average yield 

 is perhaps 12 to 14 tons per acre with good growers, or in 

 dry seasons it may be difficult to realise 11 to 12 tons. In 

 exceptional situations and favourable years up to 16 tons may 

 be grown, but such a yield is only obtained on rich deep 

 soils. The average yield for France during the ten years 

 1897-1906 is quoted by Malpeaux as 10*3 tons per acre. The 

 average yield for 1905 is given as 11*2 tons per acre, and the 

 average value as 18s. yd. per ton. According to Mentzel and 

 Von Lengerke the yield in Germany varies from g\ to 16 

 tons, and is exceptionally about 20 tons per acre. 



As regards Great Britain, yields have varied widely. At 

 five centres in Essex in 1905 the average yield was i8'3 tons 



