— 29 — 
ceived three samples from another party, who excused himself for 
sending such large beets, but said that they were as near an aver- 
age as he could get. The largest beet had been cut off at both fbp 
and bottom, so that there remained only the middle portion of the 
beet — this weighed 4.6 pounds. It was in excellent condition, the 
sugar present was 14.9 per cent., purity 81.2. The smallest beet 
weighed 3 pounds, and showed 12.1 per cent, sugar, purity 81.8. 
These may give an idea of the exceptions to the general rules, 
as laid down for the sugar beet, with which we frequently meet. I 
do not know how the weight of the tops of these large beets com- 
pares with that of the roots, but evidently it must be less than in 
smaller beets. I have noticed in all of these cases that the crown 
is broad and full. ,o ii;« 
The observations were extended over a sufficient time, and 
enough of them made to give us conclusive data as to'the relative 
weights of the tops and the roots, and also as to the rate of the in- 
crease of both, during the last six weeks of the season. On Septem- 
ber 2, we find the average weight of the tops, for the four varieties of 
beets, i. e., Kleinwanzlebener, Vilmorin, Lion Brand, and Imperial, 
to be 614.8 grams, or 21.5 ounces. We find the average for the tops 
of the same varieties, on October 13, 624.8 grams, or 22.0 ounces; in 
other words, the gain, if any, in the weight of the tops was very 
small, only one half ounce per beet ; on the other hand, the average 
weight of the beet increased from 421.8 grams, or 14.9 ounces, to 695.2 
grams, or 24.5 ounces — an increase of 9.6 ounces per beet, or 0.64 
of its weight, on September the 2nd. 
There is no material difference in the ratios for beets from the 
strongly alkalized ground, and from that practically free from it. The 
slight difference which exists shows the tops to be relatively heavier 
on the alkalized ground. 
The maximum sugar content in the beets was reached as soon 
in the one case as in the other, and there was but a slight difference 
between the maxima. The weights of the beets and the percentage 
of sugar present at the various dates give us the rate of the 
deposition of the sugar. Both the increase in the crop and in the 
percentage of sugar, must be taken into consideration. In the case 
of our beets, it will be seen that, about one third of the sugar, in 
pounds per acre, was deposited between October the 6th and the 13th.* 
The same fact is observable in regard to the Farm plots, except that 
in the case of the’Kleinwanzlebener variety, the increase in percentage, 
corresponding to the maturing of the plant, took place one week 
*The average weight of the beets on October 6 was 20.2ounces, and the per- 
centage of sugar was 10.15 per cent. 
