-^ 5 — 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Washington, D. C., August 75, i 8 gy. 
Directions for Taking Samples of Sugar Beets for Analysis. 
Prepared by H. W. Wiley, Chief of Division of Chemistry. 
'CC. When the beets appear to be mature (September 15 to 
November 15, according to latitude and time of planting) 
and before any second growth can take place, select an 
average row or rows, and gather every plant along a dis- 
tance which should vary as follows, according to the width 
between the rows : 
From rows 16 inches apart, length 75 feet. 
18 
20 
22 
24 
28 
66 “ 
59 “ 
54 and four-fifths feet. 
50 
42 and nine-tenths “ 
The beets growing in the row, of the length above men- 
tioned, are counted. The tops are removed, leaving about 
an inch of the stems, the beets carefully washed free from 
all dirt and wiped with a towel. Where the row is not long 
enough to meet the conditions, take enough from the ad- 
jacent row or rows to make up the required length. Rows 
of average excellence must be selected; avoid the best or 
poorest. Throw the beets promiscuously in a pide and 
divide the pile into two parts. This subdivision, of one- 
half each time, is continued until there are about ten beets 
in a pile. From these ten select two of medium size. Be 
careful not to select the largest or smallest. 
From all the rest of the beets, save these two, the necks 
are removed with a sharp knife at the point indicated by 
the dotted line in the figure. The beets, including the two 
saved as a sample, are then weighed. 
The number of beets harvested multiplied by 435.6 will 
give the total number per acre. The total weight of beets 
harvested multiplied by 435-6 will give the yield per acre. 
