The first samples were taken September 13, when the 
crop showed no signs of ripening. Several samples were 
taken during the next week and quite a number on Septem- 
ber 24 and 25. In every case the beets were found in full 
growth and far from ripe. Analyses of these samples showed 
them to be low in both sugar and purity. 
Of thirty-three samples taken, only two were found that 
were above twelve per cent in sugar and also above eighty 
per cent in purity, this being the ordinary standard adopted 
by sugar factories for merchantable beets. Four other sam- 
ples showed below eighty per cent purity, but enough above 
twelve per cent sugar to make them of value for factory 
use. 
In the following table the results of these early samples 
are omitted as the crops evidently, were too green for har- 
vesting. Many of these fields were again sampled later in 
the season and the results of the second set of samples are 
given in the table. 
Several statements need to be made in regard to these 
tables. They are intended to represent ripe crops. Be- 
sides the samples just mentioned, quite a number of other 
analyses were omitted when it was know that the crops 
were not ripe when the samples were taken. All analyses 
of ripe crops are entered, even though the analyses show 
that the crops were unfit for factory use. 
These tables represent the character of the beets that 
were received for analysis, at the time they were received. 
It does not necessarily follow that they represent a fair 
average of the field from which they were taken or that when 
received at the labratory they were in the same condition 
as when pulled in the field. A great many of the samples 
were not taken by employes of the Station and we have to 
trust to the judgment of the person sending the sample, that 
it correctly represents the field. The greatest single chance 
for error is in the drying out of the sample between the 
time It is pulled and the time of analysis. In some cases 
this would increase the analysis, while in others, through 
fermentation of the beets, the results would be lowered. 
The instructions say clearly to wrap the beets carefully in 
paper in order to keep from drying out, and where the in- 
structions have been followed the results are closely correct. 
But some samples have been received in bad shape. Indeed 
the analyses of some fifteen or more samples have been 
omitted from the tables because the samples themselve 
showed that they had dried out to such an extent that their 
