New York AGrIcULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 231 
Two varieties (Klein Wanzlebener and Vilmorin Improved) were 
used. The work was undertaken for the purpose of ascertaining 
the following facts: (1) The yield, (2) the richness in sugar and 
purity, (3) the cost of production, (4) the possible profit, (5) the 
influence of fertilizers, and (6) methods of culture. 
YIELD. 
The yield of sugar-beets, trimmed and washed, varied from 
8,670 pounds to 59,000 pounds an acre, the average being 26,720 
pounds. In ordinary commercial operations, 20 tons are regarded 
as a maximum yield. In favorable seasons, an average yield of 
Io to 12 tons an acre may be expected in this State. 
RICHNESS IN SUGAR. 
In 1897, analyses of about 140 samples of beets grown in dif- 
ferent parts of the State showed a variation of sugar in the beets 
from about 12 to 18.5 per ct., with a general average of 15.3 per 
ct. In 1898, samples of beets grown in sixteen different localities 
contained 10.1 to 18.5 per ct. of sugar, with an average of 15.5 
per ct. Work continued at the Station in 1899, 1900 and Igor 
gave sugar varying from 12.3 to 18.5 per ct., with an average of 
Sr pet: CL. . 
PURITY OF SOLIDS IN SUGAR-BEET JUICE. 
The efficiency of sugar-beet juice in producing sugar depends 
largely upon two factors,—the amount of sugar in the juice 
and the amount of solids other than sugar. The larger the 
amount of sugar in relation to the other solids in juice, the larger 
will be the proportion of sugar that will crystallize out in manu- 
facture. This relation is expressed by the “ coefficient of purity,” 
which is found by dividing the percentage of sugar in the juice by 
the percentage of total solids in juice. Experience has shown that 
for each pound of non-sugar solids, one pound of sugar is not recov- 
ered from the juice. The coefficient of purity is low in immature 
beets, in large beets, in the portion growing above soil and in beets 
overfed with nitrogenous manures. In the several years of work, 
the coefficient of purity varied from 72.5 to 90.2, averaging about 
83 per ct. 
