LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.

Gl FT OF

Class

U. S. DEPAR r.MK.XT OF AG&ICULT1

BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY BULLETIN NO. 74.

TIIK IM;IJ i:\ri; or SOIL AND CLIMATK

COMPOSITION OK TIIK SI CAR I'.KKT. I'.NM

BY

HARVKY \V. \VII,KY.

(•II IKK <IK BUREAU,;

X rOJ.LAHOKATlON WITH TIIK \V !•: \TI I I III ClKKAl AND Till: A i , I: K I I . I I I: \ I

Iv\ I -1:1: 1 \n:\ T Si LTIQN8 OF I MM \N \. l<>\v \. K i:\ii <K ^ . M ten i<- \ \,
Ni:\\ ^'(ll;K, CIAII, \'II:I;I\IA. \ \i> \\' IM D.\-<I \.

WASHINGTON:

GOVERN -M K N T l^f: I NH'.FtftiT^E1 1
11

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY BULLETIN NO. 74.

H. W. WILEY, Chief.

Till: INFLUENCE OF SOU AM) CUMATK

UPON T11K

COMPOSITION OF THE SUCAR BEET, him

HARVEY W. WILEY,

• MI IKK OF

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WEATHEK BUKEAC AND THE A( ;i:i< t I.Tl JJA 1-

EXPERIMENT STATIONS OF INDIANA, IOWA, Ki:.\rt< KY,
NEW YORK, UTAH, VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN.

WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1 903.

I.KTTHK OF TKAXSMITTAL

I'. S. I >I:IV\KI MKNT OF A<;i;ict i/i t i;i .

lit i: KAl <»F ClIKMISTIM .

HW//X</'"/'. It. r.. December 31, /.'t08.

>\\i: I have the honor to transmit for your approval manuscript and
graphic charts embodying the results of the cooperative work con-
ducted bv this Bureau in the study of the effect of environment upon
the composition of the sugar beet during the year 1{N)1. To the work
as conducted in 1JMM), the results of which were published in Bulletin
(54, Bureau of Chemistry, has been added the consideration of the
influence of the soil. I recommend that this manuscript l>e published
as Bulletin No. 74, Bureau of Chemistry.

I wish again to express my appreciation of the work done by the
various stations taking part in the experiment, the continued cordial
cooperation of the Weather Bureau, which is of vital importance., and
the information received from the Coast and (Jeodetic Survey and the
Naval Observatory in response to the request, made for geodetic data.
The analytical work done in this Bureau was performed, under the
direction of Mr. G. L. Spencer, by the assistants in the sugar labora-
tory, namely, H. W. Houghton, A. W. Bache. and Arthur (liven.
Respectfully,

II. \V. WlUBT,

( %iefof Bureau.
Hon. JAMES WILSON,

/Secretary.

CONTENTS.

Page.

Organization of collaborative work 7

Experiments conducted a1 Washington, I). (' J>

Experiments conducted by tin- Indiana station 11

Kxperiments conducted l>y the Iowa station 14

Experiments conduct (M! l>y the Kentucky station l'»

Kxperiments conducted by the Michigan station is

Experiments Conducted by the Xew York station, Geneva '^<>

l-'xperiineuts conducte<l hy the Cornell station, Ithaca, X. V.. 21

Experiments condncte«l by the Utah station 22

Kxperiments conducted hy the Virginia station - I

Experiments conducted hy the Wisconsin station 2«l

The S( ,il:: ".

Descriptive notes on soils •-"'

Analyses of soils 'i2

Comment on analyses •"••"•

Relation of crop to the physical properties of tin- soil !H

Relation of crop to the chemical properties of the soil :fcri

Summary < >f data. 36

( 'onclusions •'•'

5

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Pag*

( ii MM NIL 1 — Showing percentage of sn^ar in the beet, latitude of station, an<l

sunshine record :>S

No. 2. — Sh«)\vin«r iK-i-ccntai:*- of siipir in the Uvt, jmrity of jui«v, tem-
perature, and avcra^r length of day at station 40

No. .'i. Showing jK-rcenta^e of snirar in the l»eet, altitude of station,

and rainfall reeord . . 41

THK INFLUENCE or SOIL AM) CLIMATI- ITON TIIK
COMPOSITION OF THK SlKiAl! 15KKT, 151(11.

ORGANIZATION OF COLLABORATIVE WORK.

In continuation of the cooperative experimental work with su^ar
beets carried <>n in IIMMI" l>y this liureau in collaboration with certain
experiment stations and the Weather Bureau, the following letters
were addressed to the experiment stations of North Carolina, Iowa,

Michigan. I'tali. Indiana, Wisconsin. Kentucky, and to the two New
York stations in the spring of 1901:

M Mini is, 1901.

IM.KK SIR: For the collaborat ive work in the study of the influence of environ-
ment on the composition of the sugar beet for the present year, I have decided to
use seed No. 5772, Dippe's Kleinwan/lebener Klite, and 20 pounds of this seed
marked "special" have been sent to you for such collaborative work.

The area planted need not exceed an eighth of an acre, unless you desire a larger
area or a number of plots. This matter is left entirely to your own judgment, and
the residue of the seed you can dispose of as you like. I suggest, however, that the
special plot be seeded very heavily, so as to be sure of a good stand, and that enough
of the seed be reserved for replanting in case the first planting should not germinate.

I will send you in a few days a blank giving some special points in regard to tin-
study of the environment which I should be glad to have you observe during
the season.

II. \V. WlI.KY,

MAH.-II is. |<M)1.

DEAR Siu: In connection with the collaborative study of the influence of environ-
ment on the composition of the sugar beet, I desire to make a careful chemical and
physical analysis of the soils of the plots used for the growing "f the heet>.

I therefore ask that you take a representative sample of the soil and subsoil of the
plot on which you grow the No. 5772 "special" seed during the present year. After
getting such a sample, reduce it in si/e by quartering or otherwise, so as to secure a
representative subsample weighing about 1 pounds, and scud under the inclosed
frank by mail to my address.

II. \V. \VII.KY. Cfamfct,

On March 20, 1901, the seed was mailed to the stations named by
the Section of Seed and Plant Introduction, and on March L':I the
following letter was addressed to the cooperating stations:

M .MM -n i':;. 1«K)1.

DEAR SIR: In order that I may be put into direct communication with the otlicial
of your station who will be in personal charge of the collaborative work mi the study

"Results published in Bulletin No. 64, Bureau of Chemistry, U. S. Department of
Agriculture, 1901.

<»f tin- influence of environment on thr sugar beet, I write to ask that in case you
delegate this work to one. of your assistants you inform me of that fact. In case you
take personal charge of it please let me know also, in order that I may have an
official record of the person immediately in charge.

H. AV. AVlLEY,

Those letter^ were also later addressed to the Virginia station at
Blackshurg. The responses showed that the following stations and
officials would take part in the work:

Washington, I>. ('., (\. L. Spencer; Lafayette, Ind., II. A. Huston; Agricultural
College, Michigan, .1. D. Towar; Ames, Iowa, James Atkinson; Lexington, K\ .. M. A.
Scovell; (ieneva, X. Y.,(J. W. Churchill; Ithaca, X. Y., L. A.Clinton; Logan, I'tah,
John A. Widtsoe; Blacksburg, Va., AV. H. Alwood; Madison, Wis., R. II. Shaw.

The work at the North Carolina station Avas temporarily abandoned,
owing to a change in the personnel of the station.

On April 8, 1001, a final letter of instructions was sent out to the
stations above-named, which read as follows:

Ai'KiL 8, 1901.

lM-:\u SIR: I feel that it is scarcely necessary to make any suggestions in regard to
the methods of planting and cultivating the l>eets which you undertake to grow in
collaboration with this division. The seed, No. 5772 "special," you have probably
already received. If not, please let me know at once.

Some time before sowing, preferably the previous autumn, the soil should be

plowed to the usual depth of S or 5) inches, and subsoiled (\ inches deeper, making

1 bed at least !."» inches in depth. If the character of the soil warrants it, a

deeper pli.wim:. even to \o or 1 I inches, and a subsoiling of 6 inches additional will

be advisable.

The sin-face of the soil should be reduced to a tine tilth, and be well harrowed
and stirred immediately before planting, so as to stop all growth of weeds which
may have been started.

The rows should be is inches apart, and the seed be planted at the rate of about
L'.") pounds per acre. MI as to be sure of a good stand. If the soil be moist, the seed
should be covered to a depth..!' from one-half to 1 inch. If the weather be dry,
sliL'htly deeper planting may be advisable.

-•.on a- the plants an- growing vigorously they should be separated into clumps
by a hoe «> inches in width, leaving the length of I! inches of beets in each hill.
When the beets ha\e a vigorous growth and begin to form the fourth leaf, they should
lie thinned to about one plant in each !> inches. Where vacancies occur in a row,
tran-plant carefully .-o as to have the number of plants indicated above.

Ordinary surface cultivation is all that is required, taking care not to cover up
the beets at the first cultivation.

In M-ndiii'_' the samples of soil, in accordance with previous instructions, do not

' to send a history of the plot, so far as known. Complete cultural and

•r«>|. .L'iral data in collaborat ion wit h the Weather Iliireaii should be kept and

forwarded wit h t he samples. Franks for I'oru ardiiiLT samples and full instructions

for harvesting and sampling will be sent later. It is earnest I \ requested that fre-

quent anal\-es be made also at the station, so that the results of those analyses can

be compared \\ith those which are made of beets sent here.

Any question.- in regard to furt her detail- will I >e cheerfully answered.

Respectfully,

II. W. WH.KV, <"/„ „,,*/.

L I

forwarded to the

ee.l marke.l " NM. :,77L'

The following letter in rega rd t< rf ban est ing
cooperating stations under date o^Septembur/ fiy

DEAK SIK: Relative t<> the siurar beetfi j
special: "

When the beets appear to he approaching maturity and before any second Drouth
can take place, please harvest a snllieient quantity to enable von to make a fair e-ti
mate of the yield per acre. Select : 10 average beets from those harvested, have the
tops removed, leaving about an inch of stems, and wash and \\ipethe root-.

Tack the carefully dried beets in a box, inclose full data relative to the sample on
the slip "A." and forward the package to me by express, charges collect.

I will forward you the necessary slips "A" and envelopes. Please repeat this
sampling and the estimate of yield at intervals of a \\eek until end of season, timing
the shipments, if practicable, so that packages will not reach here Saturday or
Sunday.

Keep accurate data of all field work, which please transmit at end of season.
Respectfully,

II. \V. WII.KV, Chl.j.

Slip "A." referred to in the above letter, calls for the following data:
Variety; when planted; when thinned; when harvested; date of ship-
ment of sample: character of the soil; width between rows, inches;
character of the growing season, favorable or unfavorable; estimated

yield per acre, tons; remarks.

EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED AT WASHINGTON, D. C.

Fourteen rows of the Dippe Kleinwanzlebener Elite beet seed (S. P.

I. No. .M7_?) were sown on the experiment farm at the Potomac Flats
on May Is. They showed above the ground on May ^r>, and were
cultivated once a week and oftener when there were frequent rains.
Between June 11 and 14 the beets were4 thinned, one-half being allowed
to remain s inches apart and the other \'2 inches apart. The distance
between the rows was Is inches. Hand hoes and rakes were used for
the first cultivation, after which wheel hoes were employed. In the
following tabulated data the thick stand and the thin stand of
have been separately considered for purposes of comparison.

A<jri<-nltnr<il nml <n/'i/i/tir/il ifa/n on hi-flx t/ruirn mi lli, r./-/*/v/m/ /// Jurni, I'nln/iifir Wat*.
THICK STAND PLANTS - INCHES APART).

When received.

Remove.!

in to|>-
I'iim.

Average
weight
after
topping.

Egti-

mateil

yield

per acre.

Siifjar in
juice.

Siiuur in

beet

Pnritvcc.-
eirieient.

1901.
Scptcrnher ''(i

yv/- >•< nt.
:v.\ 1

Ouncet,

<; c

Rnu.

1', r cent

- \

Per tad.

October 3

:;i ii

6.2

7.:?

7.1

October 10

34.1

6.7

7.9

7.8

October 17

8.1

67.2

October "1

(1.7

S. 1

> l

65.6

October SI

•2-2. ."•

11.S

•A l

'.i.l

r.'.i. 1

Ni A'ember 7

:;i ii

6.7

:.. 1

67.7

November '21 . . .

84.2

:>. 1

7.0

to. a

10.3

68.8

\ Venice-

32 0

(i.6

8.0

8.5

8.4

67.4

10

'liHl/i/tirtil tl<itn on ///</>' iji'tiirn nil //

/•'A//*— Continued.

t'.i/nrillH'llt fill-Ill,

THIN STAND (PLANTS ]-j INCMKS A.PABT).

Wht-n n-c*-ivf<l.

Removed
in top-
ping.

Average
weight

after
topping.

Ksti-
mated
yield

per acre.

Sugar in
juice.

Sugar in
beet.

1'uritvro-

rtliri.-ut.

1901.
September °f>

Per cent.

;{."> i

(tinifl'X.

10 4

Tout.

1 o

l'< >' rr lit.

1 3

l'i i- ,; nt.

r..~i •»

October 3

39 0

9.9

10.1

7. 1

l.'l

C.:") ")

< Mutter 10

30.6

v.:,

9.9

7.8

7..r>

t;r>. •;

( (ctulicr 17

3-1 3

s f>

7.x

8.2

8.0

in; t;

( >rtolii-r 'J4

39.9

7. -2

7.f>

9.0

-.7

C.ti. li

< )ct«il)tT 31

•ji t;

10.7

s. t;

10. 'J

'.». '.»

70. S

3't 4)

S tt

ti ii

9 r,

'i :;

117 t;

\( ivt-mlirr ''1

35.6

10.1

8.2

10.0

'.). 7

\ ViTlliTt1*

34.8

9.2

8.2

8.7

8.6

67. 2

< it-neral averages

33.4

7.9

8.1

8.6

8.5

07.3

A comparison of the two plats represented by the tables under
" thick stand" and u thin stand" shows that the crowding of the beets
produced a marked effect upon the average weight, which in the
" thick" plat, was (\.(\ ounces and in the "thin" plat 9.2 ounces, after
topping. The term "topping" means the removal of the top of the
beet at the neck, as in preparation for the factory. The beets were
undersized on both plats, which is a matter of remark, inasmuch as
the soil is composed of the deposit from the Potomac River bottom
and is considered quite fertile, producing abundantly other crops
grown in the same field. The yield per acre on the two plats was
almo>t identical, the thin stand having a slight advantage. In regard
to the yield of sugar the two plats are very close together, but con-
trary to expectation the small beets in the 4l> thick stand" plat had
>lighlly less sugar than the beets of larger growth. The purity in
both plats was extremely low, but was slightly higher in the "thick
-land " plat.

The meteorological conditions under which these beets were grown
are -hown in the following table:

Meteorological data for

h. <'.,

Mean

Total

<uiisliiiii-.

Clear

Cloudy

;ltiir.-.

tation.

Actual.

I'MV.jl.ll-

I'.-r c.-nt.

dajm.

days.

May

0 F.

r." .">

Tnche*.

Hourt.

l')7 1

Hour*.

1 1:', s

1 1

10

16

.luii.-

71' 1

t or,

:;-M.i s

7t

i>

c,

loll

T'l >N

:"• 17

"7:; r,

00

7

Avrriurt- iiml totals

71 (»

12 M

59 3

40

29

\IIU''I-I

76 0

4 12

267 3

4'2l 2

11

9

Beptember

ii7 j

1 til

"7'i 1

1]

< ii-ti.li.-r

o '»7

19

6

A vi-ntu'i- an<l t./tjils

66 3

6 70

68 7

tl

20

General averages and
totals

69.0

19 34

64 0

81

49

11

'Plic meteorological conditions were <|iiitc fayorable to the growth
of l»cct>. especially in respect of (lie- distribution of the rainfall. In
the three months most important to growth, namely. June, July, and
August, the rainfall was abundant, while in September, the month
most favorable to ripening, and in October, the month of haryest, the
rainfall was deficient. In respect of dist ribnt ion of rainfall, there-
fore, the season was ideal for the oTowth of a su^ar beet. The tern
perature of the three principal Li'rowin^ months, as was to he expected,
was very much in excess of the maximum which is found to be host
suited to the product ion of beets of hi^h su^ar content . The exce^>
aboye the maximum of T<> F. for June was -J.-1 . for July l».s . and
for August «'» . The distribution of the clear and cloudy days was
also fayorable to the y;rowth of the beets. Aside from the tempera-
ture, therefore, it may be said that the meteorological eondition>
Under which these beets grew were extremely fayorable. It would
appear from the consideration of this single plat that the temperature
is the most important factor in the production of a high-grade beet.

EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED BY THE INDIANA STATION

Prof. II. A. Huston makes the following report -as to the cultivation

of the beets grown from the Pippe Klein v\ an/lehener Klite seed at

Lafayette:

Tin- special sugar-beet see«l, No. :>77L', furnished us by the Department in 1901,
was planted on April .SO, I'.HIl. The land was plowed and subsoiled and was in fair
condition at the time of planting. As two (piite hot. days preceded the planting, the
soil temperature was sufficiently high. The seeds were planted in plats of six rows
each, there being four plats. The rows were about I'd rods long, but the sampling
was done upon the north end of the Held because the conditions were more uniform
there. The spaces between the four plats were tilled out by three plats of li rows
each from the other seed furnished by the Department. Samples of the soil and
subsoil were drawn on May 1, 1901, and forwarded to the Department. The beets

came up on May 9. The stand was not very g 1 nor uniform, although double the

usual amount of seed was used. As the season progressed the stand became still
more uneven and \\ as little improved by transplanting, although at two periods
when conditions seemed to be favorable beets were t ransp lanted to till the \acancirs.
The beets were thinned to S inches in the row, and the rows were !"_' ineht-s apart.
The cultivation was kept up into July. The season was decidedly unfavorable OB
account of the lack of moisture, and this fact combined with the rather uneven stand
gave a low yield, although t he beets were of \ er\ good ijiiality. < >n November I, the
average yield from the four plats of No. .")7~L' was .~>.4 tons of \\ashed capped beets

per acre. The weighings upon tl ther plats showed that the yields were not

materially different from this. The last samples were drawn on November I. < >n
November 4, the ground fro/.e and remained fro/.eu for several days, and no further
work was done upon the field, since the beets were badly fro/en to a depth ••!':!
inches. Previous to the heavy free/c the bulk of the Held had U-en harvested, a
small portion only being left to study the question of ripening.

Agricultural ami analytical data on hcftx aroirn at tin- Indiana e.i [>fr<int'nt xtation, l.afat/i ttf.

Wlit-ii rccriv»Ml.

Removed
in

topping.

Average
weight

afUT

topping.

Esti-
mated

yield per
acre.

Snuarir.
juice.

Siitfar in
beet

Purity
coeffi-
cient

^rpti'lllher •*() . . .

l'i r c< nt.

OlIIH-l*.

t;. :?

An*.

1'i'f <•< 1,1.
\-l. \

/•/,- ,•-///.

s.~>. •!

< (rtobrr ")

t; '2

i:> :.

'.« :•;

< ),.(, >|)cr ''(>

7 7

i:, :,

91 7

( (rtobcr §'S'(

14

s -2

1-") 1

1 1 c,

,v r.

6 4

f> i

n; 7

4Hl 7

\ \ iT;l'rr

14

7

5 4

15

14 G

88 7

"'1'lii-M- :in:ilvsi'- \vcn- niailr al L;i fiivt't tc, with the except iuii of the one datcil Octolu-r L'S. which
\\;t^ iii.-nif .-it \Va<liiii.LrI«'H I'roin a sainph- corresponding to tliat atialyxed on October 26 at the Indiana
station.

Tin1 <l;it:i for Lafayette show the growth of a beet very much under-
sized, the averao-e si/e of the topped beet as prepared for the factory
beino- only T ounces. The average yield per acre was also only about
one-half the normal average- -namely, 5.4 tons — though this figure is
open to suspicion, only one estimate having been made. The percentage
of sugar in the beets was (juite high, and (he purities were phenome-
nally high, as has been the case in previous reports. In the sample ana-
lyxedin the Bureau of ( 'hemistry the puuity was found to beS^.5. which
leads us to believe that some modification of the ordinary method of
a>certaining purity is used at the Lafayette station, which is the cause
of the phenomenally high figures. In the platting of the curves in
the charts which follow, the data used are those obtained in the Bureau
of Chemistry on October !iS.

The meteorological data for Lafayette and Indianapolis as given in
the following tables Illustrate clearly the conditions of drought and
excessive sunshine that prevailed, although the actual average tem-
perature wa> l.'J lower than in 1JMM).

, /,/,/., 1901.

M..nth.

Mean

tfinpcra-
tnre.

Precipi-
tation.

dear
days.

Cloudy
days.

MHV

°F.

:,'i 5

Tnchet.

" VI

2

1 1

.Iniif

7" 'i

1 ll'l

s

11

July

s| ]

1 1

]s

•'

AveraK'-aml total

71.2

7.79

28

27

Anu'ii^t

75 r>

2 50

10

12

•nlicr

1 :;i

Ifi

(i

Octol-.-r

1 7^

•Jl

Avera^'"- ami total

(Mi. 1

8.62

46

25

General avrray ami total

G8 G

l(> 11

74

18

The sunshine record for Indianapolis, tin- nearest station at which
sunshine records were kepi, is shown in (he following table:
Meteorological data for IiiiHinm/mli*," ///</.. //«//.

M.-aii

Sm»!mi. .

Clrar

Clnllilv

tore.

tation.

Arlual.

1'nssililr.

Percent

Mav

/••

t;o ••

iiK-tn §.

ERwra.

1 It! 7

,i

g

u

June

:;> c,

:; .vj

•M>7 t;

1 1'.i li

7

r,

July

V> (1

s7

19

ii

A\ riaur ami total

71. «J

»•>. W

68

34

17

A HUM i,-t

75 2

3 57

286 7

1".") ••

I'M

7

g

Sfpti-liihtT

f.7 »

H

:<?:< c,

14

2

October

.V, 7

"17 s

:; 11 'i

72

17

7

Aycntuv mid total

(k; 4

7 75

71 7

< u'lirral a vrras,'<'aii<i t< >tnl

69.2

14.55

Ci'l ,S.">

7''

32

" Fifty nine milrs suiithcast «>f Lafaydtr, Jn«l.

AS will he seen from the preceding pao-«. the rainfall at Lafayette
was \ci-y small. iM'iii^oiily \(\.4[ inches as compared with :-5n.:>^ inches
in UMM). and, moreover, t-lie distrilmtion was very unfa\ orahle. In
July, which is the principal tjTowinn' month, there was scarcelv smv
rain at all, while the supply for August was very moderate, and that
for Septeml>er still less. On the other hand, during October, the
harvesting season, the rainfall was excessive. Thus it is seen that the
distrilmtion of the rainfall was not at all favorable to the production
of the crop.

The temperatures for the ^row in^- season were above the maximum
for the production of beets of the highest (juality. bein^ ±'.» decrees
above 70° F. for June, LI. 1 degrees above TO V. for July, and 5.5
degrees above TOU F. for August. There is a remarkable contrast
between the character of the beets grown at Lafayette and lho-e
at Washington, D. C., where it appears that the high temperature
interfered very seriously with the production of sugar in the beet.
Tn the case of Lafayette this effect does not appear, and the conclusion
to be drawn from these data would be contrary to that reached at the
Washington station. In this case it seems to be the latitude which is
the predominating factor. The distribution <>f clear and cloudy da\ s
was very irregular, October having the largest number of dear day-.
although it was a month of heavy precipitation. July coming next and
September third. The total number of dear days was In greater than
in 1900, and the percentage of sunshine, as observed for Indianapolis,
was ;">. 1 per cent higher.

The meteorological data for Indianapolis, about .V.» miles .southeast
of Lafayette, are interesting for comparison. It is seen that the tem-
perature and precipitation average about the same for the two points,
but the distribution of the rainfall is slightly different, being heavier
during August at Indianapolis and lighter during September. The

14

total precipitation for the six months, however, \\a- -I i- hi ly greater
at Lafayette, while the average temperature, as might he expected,
was a little higher at Indianapolis.

1'nder date of October ^s. Professor Huston, in eonum-nt ing on the
prevailing meteorological conditions during the beet season of 1(.»<>1.
says:

As you an- doubtless aware, the summer season lias been niiite unusual in i\\\>
tion, the drought being so severe that the corn crop will be reduced fully one-half;
on our own farm we have practically no corn.

Your circular of September 1"), was received, but since the beets had not appeared
to approach maturity, but were simply standing still from lack of water, I did not
deem it wise to send samples at that time. On September 20, I sampled a field, and
the results you will find on inclosed card; on October 5, I sampled again, and you
will see that between these dates the beets had made a very substantial gain in
both sugar content and purity. No rain fell between these dates. On < >ctober 11, a
general rain set in, and in four days we had 4.:>r> inches of rain. The beets started
to grow, but you will see, from the results of the analyses on October !><>, that tlie
sunar content was not reduced. This is an unusual result, and from now on we shall
sample the field every few days to see what takes place. The drought reduced the
stand of beets fully one-half, but those remaining are of marketable si/e and very
good « | utility.

I regret, very much that the beets»are not so situated that we could have tried irri-
gation on them, for it would have been a banner year for the purpose.

EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED BY THE IOWA STATION.

The beets were planted at the Iowa station on May 22, thinned on
June 20, and harvested for the first time on October 7. Mr. James
At kinxni. a»i>tant in agriculture at Ames, writes as follows concern in g
the beet crop on September 23, 1901:

I may say that, while our beet crop has run the gauntlet of many foes this year,
still it looks exceedingly well at the present time. You are, no doubt, aware that
our crop suffered considerably from the hot winds and drought during the summer.
I found that the beet crop stood it about as well as any other crop, although it was
not by any means exempt from injury. The blister beetles also gave us considera-
ble trouble, and we were compelled to light four broods of them with Paris green
and London purple. However, it appears at the present time that we have come
out on top and that we shall have beets of good quality to harvest. Sugar

making has scarcely commenced yet, the beets being only slightly sweet to the taste.
I think the first harvesting will IK- ready about October 1.

The ivsult>of the analyses made at Washington of the three samples
of beets forwarded are found in the following table:

<n, I,, ,/* iji-mr,, <it ///,• fn/ra I'l.ifx rim, at S

W)l«-ll JVi-:-ivt'«l.

Krimivril
ill
topping.

Average
weight
after

topping.

teti
mated

\ icl'l prr

acre.

Siitfiir in

Juice.

Silvan in

beet

Parity
oo

rlVirirlit.

I'.HIl.

Oct., her 10

l'< r dul.
is 7

1H. 1

Tnlis.

rj. i

/'/;• ,; i,l.

18.7

( >rtol.«T"l

•11 1

1" f,

1" s

1 1 i

i:; '.»

79.6

! 1 1 H T ."»

1 |

1C. 7

IS. 8

1... 7

i.\ i

A ViTHKr

17. f>

14.2

T2.9

14.6

it. i

,X0.2

15

Tin1 agricultural and analytical data for Iowa show beets of fine
character, very favorable yield per acre, and satisfactory purity.
The average weight of the beets, prepared for the factory. \\a> 1 I . L'
ounces and the estimated yield per acre I'J-.i) tons. The percentage of
sugar in the l>eet was 11.1 and the purity SO.L'. These data must l»c
regarded as exceedingly favorable. especially in \ie\vof the climatic
conditions under which the beets were grown.

The following detailed statement of the meteorological condit ions
show> the extent of t he drought referred to by Ml'. Atkinson, the rain-
fall for the six months being only HJ. !."» inches, as compared with 36. 29
inches the preceding year. The temperature was practically the same,
the record for 11HM» showing an average of <!S.2°.

Meteorological data for

, i'.»n.

Month.

Trni|MTH-
turr.

1'n-cipi-

tatiun.

Clear
days.

Cloudy

dayB.

I'.MH.
Mav

°F.
61 4

Iin-ln'X.

:; r,<»

17

5

.111 lie

71. 1

•J. :'>c>

21

. 1

.Julv

s;1, :;

•' 2«i

•>7

1

\ vrra^f aixl t< itul

73 0

8 31

65

7

August

72.8

i ai

25

1

September

61 6

:; (•>.">

16

7

OctolHT .. .

r>:5 ».)

•2 '.IS

21

4

Average and total

62. 8

7 84

62

12

(u'lirral avrnitfr and total

67.9

16.15

127

19

The sunshine record is taken from a table of meteorological data
fo • DCS Moines, Iowa, about 30 miles south of Ames, that being the
nearest 'station at which sunshine records were kept:

Meteorological <l«ta for l)<x Moines, lon-a, 1901.

Tempera-

1'rccipi-

Siiiisliinr.

Clear

Cloudv

ture.

tation.

Actual.

Possible.

IVr ci-nt.

days.

days.

1901.

May

°F.

til c>

IllfllfX.

1 111

312 7

451 9

69

12

6

.Iniic

7:;. i

2.41

329. 1

»:.»;. -j

72

11

3

Julv

(M

1 7"

390 1

•l»;i ,s

84

15

1

Avrra^r . au<l total

73

5. 53

75

38

10

August

75

0.67

318.9

429 4

74

13

3

Septeniber

t;i s

2 W

199 9

374 5

53

9

9

Octohrr

5<>. 2

2.14

230

342.5

67

13

9

Average and total

65 3

5 41

64 7

35

•>\

(icncral avcraj,rt' and
total

69.2

10.94

69 85

73

31

These data show that the months of June, July, and August were
considerably tibove the desired temperature, the month of July
especially haying been excessively hot both at Ames and at Des
Moines. The heat coupled with a very insufficient rainfall, July and

August showing a very small precipitation, made the season unusually
dry. Tin1 data tor DCS Moines show a much smaller precipitation
and at the same time a much smaller number of clear days than the
data for Ames. These data show that the beet crop, properly planted
and cultivated, is independent of variations in precipitation to a sur-
prising extent. The total precipitation during the growing season at
Ames for 1901 was considerably less than one-half that of the previous
year and yet no deleterious effect was produced thereby on the size of
the beets. In this respect and in quality the beet crop was markedly
superior to that of 11)00. These data are valuable as showing that, in
regions where deficient rainfall may occur during the summer time.
the sugar beet may produce a satisfactory crop if the proper attention
is paid to the preparation of the soil and the cultivation.

EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED BY THE KENTUCKY STATION.

The special beet seed was planted at Lexington, Ivy., on April •_!'.».
1901, 18 inches between the rows, thinned on May '2l\ and June 10,
and harvested on October 17. The soil was plowed s inches deep and
subsoiled 5 inches.

The analysis made at Wasmngton of a sample of these beets gave
the following data:

a in] analytical data on huts i/roirn at /lit Ki'itlnckif Experiment Station,

Lexington,

Whcll received.

Removed
in
tupping.

Average
weight
after
topping.

Esti-
mated
yield per

acre.

Sugar in
juice.

SiiL'ar in
lieet.

I'urity
etlicient.

1901.

OrtolMT --M

Percent.

•>:, ••

Ounces.
10 4

Tons.

-

I't r c.i- nt.

n :;

I'< I' Ci lit.

•i

71

The analytical and agricultural data obtained at Lexington during
the season are as follows:

Agricultural ana1 analytical <l«t<i ,t,t< rmin«l «t tin K< ntnck;/ station .

Mate of sampling.

Number
of

beets.

Average
weight

topped:

Su-,.1- in
jlliee.

Parity

CO

etlieient.

1901.
Julv 11

i

Ounces.

I', r <; nt.

^ \

.Fulv -11

i

K

'• 1

',(\ :;

AllL'Ust 1

i

'.i 7

rj i

August : '

i

Id <)

'i 7

77 "

August £{

Ill.T

;». '.»

77. -2

Ortoh, r If,

ID

VI .">

lu i

7."- 7

10.4

9.9

73.3

The data for the Kentucky -tatinn show that the beets produced
there were slightly under the normal si/e, and neither the content of
sugar nor the purity wa> high enough to enable thes<- heeN to compete

17

in- sugar making With beets _^r«»\\ n in more northern localities.
analysis of (lie single sample <>t' beets made at Washington gave almost
the same data as the average <>f the analyses made at the Kentucky
station from July 11. to Oetoher ll'», inclusive. From the anal\ -es
made at the Kentucky station it appeal's that the Keels reached their
highest content of sugar early in August, hut too much stress must
not be laid upon a single analysis. From the middle of Augu-l to the
middle of Oetoher there was not a very large variation in the content
of sugar in the beets.

Mr. Seovell Mate- that the early season was favorable, but that July
and August were unfavorable. The climatic condit ions, a- shown in
the following table, do not ditler greatly from those of the preceding
season, even as to total rainfall:

Meteorological data for L'.>-'nnj\<ni, A'//., /.'./;/.

Month.

Mean
tempera

tore.

Total
]>rccii>i
tation.

Sunshine.

Clear
days.

Cloudy
days.

Actual.

IV.svi),],.. 1-,-riTiH.

May

Degrees.

' (12. S
73.9
80.3

IlH'/H'X.

2.67
3.70
2.G1

Houre.

27:;. i
322. 3
385

Hours.

411.7
443.1
450.1

62
73

8G

14
13
28

7

2
0

July

A vcra.m- and total

\UUUSt ...

72.3

8.98

73.7

50

9

74
67

fi7. 9

3.71
2.18

1.33

305.5

271;

2ss. 1

422.1

37H
317. 3

72
74
83

10
13
22

5
2
2

September

October

Average and total

(it-nt-nil average ami
1 ital

<;<;. :5 7. 2.")

76.3

45

9

r,'.».:; 16.' 28

75

95

18

The meteorological data show that the temperature of June and
July was lower than at Ames. Iowa, although Lexington is about L'TT.
miles south of Ames. The distribution of the rainfall at Lexington
was fairly favorable, although the supply was not sullicient. There
is, however, a remarkable uniformity of precipitation during the
months from May to September, inclusive. The precipitation for
October was small, which is distinctly favorable for beet culture.

Mr. Seovell further calls attention to the existing drought by a ^tate-
ment of the accumulated deficiency of precipitation from January 1.
1901, which in May amounted to S.!L; inches in June t<> s.«'.T inches;
in July to lO.rM- inches; in August to 1< >..V> inches; in September to
11 inches, and in October to 11.78 inches

A slight improvement took place in the quality <>f the beet-, tin-
average of sugar in the beet having been T.s percent and the purity
coefficient 69.6 in 1900, as compared with :> and 71 for lt»nl. The
beets are, however, still considerably below the commercial standard,
both as to sugar content and purity.
23843— No. 7-1—03 2

18

EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED BY THE MICHIGAN STATION.

As will be seen by reference to the following table, two sets of
experiments were conducted at the Michigan station, field No. 3
having been planted May 16, with rows 18 inches apart, and thinned
June 15, while field No. 6 was not planted until June S, and was
thinned July 8 and 9, the rows being 21 inches apart.- The soil of
field No. 3 is described as a sandy loam and that of field No. <', as a
gravelly loam. The constituents of the soil will be discussed in detail
under that heading. While leaf spot checked the growth somewhat,
the season was in general very favorable, cool, and with a great deal
of sunshine. The data for both fields are as follows:

Agricultural and analytical data on l>ects grown at the M><-hi<i«n /•>/>» /•////,///

Agricultural College.

FIELD NO. 3, EARLY PLANTING, MAY 16, 1901.

When received.

Removed
in top-
ping.

Average
weight
after
topping.

yield

per acre.

Sugar in
juice.

Sugar in
beet

Purity

co-
efficient.

1901.
September 2f>

Per cent.
21.9

Ounces.

8.8

'/><//.-•.
13 6

Ar c< at.
12.5

I'i r <; at.

79 1

< ICH.I..T 10

16

14 5

14 4

13 8

79 6

( >e|obi-r 15

10 2

10 9

14 5

15 4

1 1 ')

81 5

( letober IS"

14 2

8 2

16 9

14 1

13 7

80 1

November 2«

19.1

9.4

16.1

15.3

1 I s

80 1

November 8

25 5

10 1

14 5

16 5

us

,V> '1

November 14

22.4

13.7

15.4

15.2

1 1 7

80.4

Average

18.5

10

15.1

14.8

14.7

80.5

FIELD NO. 6, LATE PLANTING, JUNE 8-9, 1901.

September 20

15 1

5 4

•-, •;

12

11 7

7<i -,

< (etoher 10

1" '>

6 4

5 4

14

i:; i

,Vt '1

October !.">

11 s

4 1

."> I

1 1 s

1 1 :;

82

( >etober IS"

1 1 "

8 2

4 7

14 1

l:i 7

SO 1

\i i\ cm her '_'" . ...

I'.i 1

9.4

5.1

i:. :;

1 1 s

SO. 1

November N

.,, .,

6 4

4 6

17 4

ir, il

s:; 7

Nnveinlier 14 . .

•j:{ 7

7

6.6

1C, s

16

S'J 1

Average

17.2

6.7

5.3

14.9

14.4

82.5

( Jem-nil average

17 9

8 3

10 2

14 9

14 6

81 5

" III the t\\<> package-, arriving on these Mate.-, the beets harvested from the two fields could not In-
separated.

The analytical data furnished by the station showed an average
weight of beets in the field of \-\ ounces, 1 H.7 per cent of sugar in the
beets, a coefficient of purity of 7'.».L\ and a yield per acre of 1 l.ii tons.

In case of the early planting, while the average weight of the heel>
ua- -lightly below the normal, the otimated yield per acre was far
above the average, namely, !.">. 1 tons. The data for the late plant ing,
June S and !», field No. »',. -dmw practically the same ijuality of beets
a- rcgard> -ugar content and an even highei' purity, but. in so far a^
yield pci- acre is cnncernecl. the crop wa> only about one-third that of
the early planting.

The beets grown during Itiof were of a better quality than those of
the jireceding year, the percentage of Migar in the beet and the

19

coefficient of purity being each !.."» higher. Tin- licet- \\ere >maller,
however. and (lie average yield per acre \\a> lo\\er. The data for the
late planting arc responsible for the decrease to a <jTeat extent, the

figures foi* the early planting being but little lower than those fur I'.HKI.
The climatic cunditiuns existing at Agricultural College and at
Detroit during this season are shown in the following tables:

M, l>n,-'>ln,,',,;il <l<tin /'«

>/ ('<,//,,/,, .!///•//., IHO1.

Month.

Temper

atiire.

I'recipi

tation.

Clear

• \:t\ |.

Cloudy

Mav

°F.

Inche*.

., |.i

Ill

I |

.1 unc

I'.S II

•\ -,7

| ;

•i

.lulv . .

71 "

.") IIS

• >•>

;{

V \ eratre Mini total

65 H

11 07

45

I'l

August

68. 1

2 49

15

7

September

ill 7

1 f.7

]v

7

October

I'l <<

1 lil

|s

4

Average and t< >\H\

59 y

s 77

;,]

18

(ieneral average ami total .

62 8

19 84

96

37

Iii the following taMe is «riven the suihshine record for Detroit,
Mich., 76 miles southeast of Agricultural College, the nearest point
at which sunshine records were kept.

ildt'i for Ih'lrnil, Mii'li., J'.IOJ.

Moiitb

Temper-

Predpl-

Sunshine.

Clear

Cloudv

ature.

tation.

Actual.

Possible.

Percent.

days.

days:

Mav

0 F.
56.6

iin-iii*.

•1. 7ii

Hour*.
±."_( 'J

limn*.
l.'.l '1

l'i

5

10

June

•J (is

I .'it'. "

88

9

a

July

71 ; ^

5 50

li'.l ^

73

18

•i

AvtTaj^e and total

67 4

10 34

i,| •;

•»l

August

71.9

3.20

238 3

429 4

55

10

5

September

r,| s

1 t;:.

"11 .".

374 5

1 :

5

October . .

:," s

1.90

281

::!•• :.

C.7

ir.

Average iind total

63.2

6. 75

62 :?

39

u

General average and
total .

ii.', :;

17.09

Ill s

7]

34

These data show an abundant rainfall during the three principal
growing months, especially in July, when the amount appears t<» he-
excessive. September was a dry month, favorable to the ripening of
the beet, while, on the other hand. October was a wet month and
unfavorable to the harvesting. The ligures fur Detroit show practi-
cally the same conditions as those prevailing at Agricultural College.
A comparison of the meteorological data with that for I'.HMI shows
that there was a fall in the average temperature of 1.7 degree- and an
increase in the precipitation of 2.8 inches, while the percentage of
sunshine increased ^.0 per cent.

20

EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED BY THE NEW YORK STATION AT

GENEVA.

The experimental beet plots at the Geneva station were planted on
June 10, with 20 inches between the rows, and were thinned from
July 10 to 20. Special fertilizer experiments were conducted at this
station, which will be further discussed under soil. The season was
reported as being favorable, and the following analytical data, as
determined at Washington, bear out this report, the beets from Geneva
outranking any others grown as to sugar content and purity, standing
second in size and yield.

<i<i/<i

on bet't* < i mil' a nf flu .V- "'
Geneva.

York

xtalinn

When received.

Removed
in top-
ping.

Average
weight
after
topping.

Estimat-
ed yield
per acre.

Sugar in
juice.

Sugar in
beet.

Purity
coeffi-
cient.

1901.
November 2

Per cent.
16.8

Ounce*.
19.7

Zbfu.

Per cent.
16.5

Per cent.
16.0

82.1

Do

15.9

18 4

17.9

17 3

89.1

November 11

17.8

21.4

14.9

14.4

79.7

Do

17.8

19 7

15.8

15.3

83. 2

December 24

38.3

10.8

15.45

82.6

Do

15.5

13.1

17.2

86.9

\ VlTlllJt'*

20.4

M.I

« 13. 8

16.3

15.8

83 9

a Averaged from N. Y. Exp. Sta. Bui. No. 205, 1901.

A- the conditions existing at Geneva seem to approach the ideal for
sugar-beet culture, it is regretted that only the temperature and rain-
fall data are obtainable for that place. The sunshine data is not avail-
able for any nearer point than Ithaca. It is shown, however, that the
decreased temperature in 1901, as compared with the previous year —
i. e., 1.6° — and the increased rainfall of 3.4 inches had practically no
effect on the quality of the beets, while their si/e \\a> -lightly
.increased. The meteorological data available are as follows:

\.

l.'Mtl.

Month.

Tmij.rr-
nturi'.

Precipi-
tation.

M,.y.

.Inn.-
.Inly.

Aim. i

SepU'inb. r
(x-tolM-r ...

I'.MH.

7f,. »;

Avenim- inn! total

67.5

71
14

:•!. I

total

< inn-nil iivrniK*- MTU! total

C.l.s

•A. .SO
2.07

9.84

•j. it;

9. :«

T.I. 17

21

These data show a most favorable distribution <>f the rainfall during
the growing season. Then' was not too much precipitation during
May and June, the period of preparation. There was abundant pre-
cipitation during duly and August, the period of rapid growth; a
diminished precipitation during September, the period of ripening,
and a very slight rainfall during ( Mober. the tii ..... >f harvesting. No
more ideal distribution of the rainfall could be desired.

EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED BY THE CORNELL STATION AT

ITHACA, N. Y.

The season at Ithaca is reported as having been favorable, and a
comparison of the analytical data with that of the previous \ear
shows that the beets were of practically the same high sugar content,
although the purity was >2 points lower. While those, beets are of
excellent character, it is to be noted that the purity is not as high as
would be expected in beets of their sugar content, being very slightly
below the desired standard. The analyses made at the station give
higher figures for both sugar content and purity than those obtained
in our own work.

Agricultural <tn<l

<lata on btett grown <ti the Cornell experiment xhition, Itlmcn.

When received.

Removed
in top-
ping.

Average
weight
after
topping.

Estimat-
ed yield
per acre.

Sugar in
juice.

Sugar in
beet.

1'uritv

coeffi-
cient.

1901.
October 17

Per cent.
17 9

Ounces.
12 2

Tom.
10 1

Per cent.
14 5

r< r <•< nl.
1 1 1

80

Oetolier '_' 1

17 3

11 2

13

14 5

14 1

XI Q

October 31

]."> >

13 7

13

1 1 •">

14 1

77 5

November 7

21 6

13 3

18.6

16 3

F> s

81 1

November 21

26 7

11

13

14 6

Ho

7Q ^

November 25

15 8

17 :•;

13

15 8

15 3

79 4

Average

19 2

13 1

i" i;

15

1 1 •;

79 9

niid/i/licul dnta prrjuurd <it /hi' Conn'll Station.

When harvested.

Average
weight
of beets.

Sugar in

jlliee.

SiiK'tir in

beet.

Parity
coeffi-
cient

1901.
October 15

Ultiicix.
]•' .">

l'i r r, nt.

/•'/• i-int.

15 06

S'» (i

October 22

10 0

it; n.'i

i>etober29 . .

8.0

if, (-.:,

i:> s.">

November 5. .

13 5

19 40

|s 1 {

Kl (1

November 19

10 0

16 60

15 77

November 21

16 5

18 75

17 MO

83 0

Average

11 75

17 22

Hi '£"}

v-i •'

22

The climatic conditions under which these beets were grown are
shown in the following table:

M'tiorological data for Itlnru, X. )'.,

Mean

Total

Sunshine.

Clear

Cloudy

ture.

tation.

Actual.

Possible.

Percent.

days.

days.

Mav

°F.
55.8

Inches.
4.20

Ifutirx.

•>i't t;

Hours.

451 9

49

6

16

.linif.. .

C.7. s

3.06

344.7

456.2

76

10

8

July

74.3

3.60

369.4

461.8

80

5

3

Avt-nitfc ami total .

6ti.O

10.86

68 3

•'1

;;•'

AnyiHt

69.5

3. a1)

277.6

429.4

65

8

9

Sfjitt'inliiT

61 8

1 66

"(11 S

374 5

70

13

( ictoht-r

51. 2

1.07

190.6

342. 5

56

• 7

t;

Averaur<- ami total

60.8

6. 58

63. 7

28

22

(Jrnrral average and total...

68.4

17.44

66

49

54

The meteorological data show an even distribution of rainfall, indi-
cating, however, a larger precipitation in May and a smaller one in
August than at the Geneva station. The dry weather of September
and October was extremely favorable to the ripening and harvesting
of the beets.

EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED BY THE UTAH STATION.

The plat selected for the cooperative sugar-beet work was plowed
and subsoiled on April 2-t, and seeded with a drill on April 27, 1!»<>1.
The beets were thinned on June 1, and as late as June li», were not
suffering for water, at which time they stood 6^ inches. The dates of
irrigation were July 1, 16, and 31; August 15; and September 3 and
H). The beets were cultivated on May 23, June 13, and July 3, the
harvest taking place on November 4, 1901. The growth was uneven,
there being vacant places in the rows. To the above report Director
Widtsoe adds the following data, which differ somewhat from tho-e

obtained at the Washington office:

TODS.

Yield per acre L':MM

I NT cent sucrose in juice 17. 0">

Purity coetlicient Sl.o

The analytical and agricultural data obtained on the samples for-
warded to Washington are as follows:

iiil <nitl/i/tinil tltttu n,i I,, ; /.s t/rnirn <ll tin' I'tnli AV/»«r////. /// Button, I,»<j<lii.

Wllrll IVrriVf'l.

Krlll<>\ I'll

in

topptaf.

Avrruirr
\\riKMt

after

topping

Ksti-

mated

yi»-li| I.IT

acre.

Su^ar in

Juice.

Miirar iii

Beet

Purity
coeffi
cient

190L

i ».-I,,|..T::

Percept,

1 1 7

0WMM.

"ii 1

"1 7

i" i

Percent,

11 '.i

75.0

OctnlMT Id

i:: 7

•_'± (i

i t.i,

n. i

7'.». s

( )cl<. 1,,-r 1 I

9 9

.,, .,

1 1 :;

i:t '.»

7<». 4

( IctohtT'''1

10 2

.>•; .)

17 "

in 7

Average.

1" 1

•>| •>

•J3 4

14.6

14.2

79.1

The data for the I'tah Mation arc given for reference and compari-
son, hut of course arc not platted with the other Nations in the
graphic charts, It is the intention during another year to include a
series of comparative tests at irrigation stations when the data
ohtained for Utah will serve as an introduction. The most marked
characteristic of the I'tah heet> i- their largv si/e. being fully one-
third above the ideal average for sugar heets of high quality. The
vield pel- acre is also far above that obtained at the other station--
where irrigation is not practiced. The sugar content of the beets is
entirely satisfactory, although the purity, as might be expected from
the character of the soil and the method of culture, is somewhat low.

The meteorological conditions prevailing at Logan and the vicinity
during the period of growth were a> follows:

Meteorological data, for L<></<m, Or///, IDOL

Month.

Mean
tempera-
ture.

Total
precipi-
tation.

Clear

days.*-!

Cloudy
• lays. «

May

1>< i/n i .--.
' tilt, il

I IK-/K.--.
•2. \:\

21

7

til. 1

0. 11

20

2

Fulv

7i ; 7

07

28

2

66 2

2 91

69

11

72 8

1 GO

21

8

Scptcllllier . .

.V.). "2

1.03

92

8

( led it nT

f>:; c,

1.83

18

10

\ Vera"e Illlil tdtill

01 9

4.46

f.l

26

( ielUTJll il Venice lllld total

64.0

7.37

130

37

" Kt-conl iiiadf at Coriniif, !'.» miles southwest of LORHII.

In the following table is jriven the sunshine record for Salt Lake
City, Ttah, the nearest point at which sunshine records were kept. C.i;
miles south of Logan.

<?ntn jnr Kilt l.«h ('it,/, I'tnli, /HOI.

Mean

Total

Siiic-hine.

dear

ClolKlv

Month.

teinpera-
tnre.

precipi-
tation.

Actual.

I'ossil.le.

1'ereellt.

day*.

da\ 1.

May

*F.

63.0

ftidbea.

l.l'T

Hour*.
352. f.

/ lours.
1 1'.t. 1

7'.'

20

2

66.0

0.40

SSL 4

151.9

n

23

1

July

>0. "2

.31

v|

19

2.

Average ami tot»il:

69. 4

r>. 07

>4». :?

62

7

76.0

1.22

282.0

427.4

06

iT

6

Sc|itcinher

68.0

:«

874.0

si

•Jl

8

Oftol.lT

55.6

.96

299. i

I4S.I

70

22

Avcracf an<l total

64.9

2.86

72. :?

81

14

lifiicral averatre and

i'.7 •'

7 'i:;

at

a

24

The meteorological conditions at Logan are interesting in showing
the distribution of the precipitation and the variations in temperature.
During July it is seen that only a trice of rain fell, while in August
and October the precipitation compares favorably with that of some
of the nonirrigated stations. The temperature at Logan during the
growing season is decidedly lower than at the nonirrigated stations.
July shows a high temperature, but June especially is low, and the
August temperature is not much above 70°.

The data for Salt Lake City show practically the same distribution
of precipitation as at Logan during the months of June, July, and
August. The temperature, however, at Salt Lake was decidedly
higher, especially during July, and the precipitation during the month
of May was nearly twice as groat as at Logan.

EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED BY THE VIRGINIA STATION.

For the first time the experimental beet work was carried on at
Blacksburg, in 1901, thus supplying a Southern station to take the
place of North Carolina, where the work was temporarily discontinued.

The beets were planted on June 1, with 18 inches between the rows.
thinned on July .">. and the first sample forwarded was harvested on
October 12. The determinations of the percentage of sugar in the
juice, as made at the experiment station, were as follows:

Per cent.
September 20, 1901 ....................................................... 6. 65

September 30, 1901 ....................................................... 8. 95

October 12, 1901 .......................................................... 12. 62

October 22, 1901 .......................................................... 12. 69

October 31 , 1901 .......................................................... 1 '2. 77

A vrrage .................................................... ...... 10. 74

The analytical data obtained at Washington on the samples for-
warded from Blacksburg and the climatic conditions prevailing during
the period of growth are shown in the following tables:

A</rir/i/tur<i/ un<l niiti/i/tlru/ iliifn

B

/,>•/.»• i/r

tackto

rg.

Wlu-ii received.

Kelllnved

in

topping.

AveniKf
weight

after

t<,|>i.inu.

Esti-
mated
yield per
acre.

Sugar

in
juice.

Sugar

in
beet

1'iirily
coeffi-
cient

1901.
October IT)

/'/;• ,-nit.

Ounce*.

Tbm.

10+

Percent,

n i.

r> r <•• nt.

11 -2

76. B

Oet.,ber-|

•jn r,

i

12.9

71 ;. 7

N«.Vi-Illl..T '..'

it;

i

Ifi S

i:>.:;

Average

15 1

4.5

10

13.6

13.1

77.6

25

Meteorological data for

nun.

IConth.

Mean

tempera-
ture.

Total
]>reri|iita-
tion.

Smi-
hbine."

Clear
da\v

Cloudy
davs.

Mav

/•'.

1 „<•/„.<.
(i 71

/V c ct tit.

1"

10

.1 line

r.7 s

i'> 7s

Ill S

10

12

Julv . . .

71

1 .1

] i

7

Average ainl total

6<>. 8

18

50.7

u;

29

August

68.6

10.63

. 40.8

7

12

September

111 C,

*;i :;

I.'

9

Oetober

BQ

. %

'MIS

•Jl

;{

Average and total

60.7

l-l os

.%. 7

43

24

GeiHTiil average and total

63 8

:>•' os

63 7

79

63

"These data uere averaged from weekly means fnrnisluHl by Mr. Alwood.
''To October !'.» only.

Iii commenting on the season at Blackshurg, Mr. Alwood, under
date of October 1'J, says:

The weather conditions have been decidedly bad here this year, so that the crop
is not extra heavy, but it can be considered a fair average. I think that at this time
the hrets arc practically mature, but I fear that the wet season and consequent lack
of sunshine will cause them to analy/e very low in sugar. To the present time no
st'ouid growth has begun; in fact, only a few of the bottom leaves have died. It is
hardly probable that conditions as to sunlight will be such as to increase the sugar
content very materially from this on.

It will be noticed tbat the general characteristics of the season at
Blacksburg are in striking contrast to those at the other stations,
unusual rains having prevailed at the former and drought at the latter.
In forwarding the samples, Mr. Alwood said: " A more unfavorable
year could not occur, but in this garden soil the result is fair."

A study of the agricultural and analytical data for Blacksburg shows
a beet of phenomenally small size but of a fair average yield per acre.
The sugar content of the samples was fair, but the purity was unsati-
factory. The high sugar content of this low latitude must be ascribed
principally to the altitude of the station, which is about 2, 100 feet.
One of the principal objects in extending the collaborative work to
Blacksburg was to determine the effect of altitude and its accompany-
ing meteorological influences upon the* sugar content of the beet. This
object has been attained in a most striking manner in the preceding
data.

The rainfall during the preparatory planting period was excessive.
For the month of June it was abundant and for August far in excess
of the quantity required for favorable growth. The precipitation for
September and October, however, was favorable to the ripening and
harvesting of the crop.

26

EXPERIMENTS CONDUCTED BY THE WISCONSIN STATION.

While the beets grown at the Wisconsin station were of very fail-
quality, they were far inferior to those of the previous season, showing
a decrease of sugar in the beet of 2.5 per cent and a decrease in purity
of 8.8. The beets grown in 1900 ranked next to the highest among
the cooperating stations, and undoubtedly the falling off in quality in
1901 was due not solely to the drought (the total precipitation for the
growing season being 7.7 inches less than in the previous year), but
also in part to the unfortunate distribution of such rain as fell. The
drought was most extreme in the first months of growth and the rain-
fall greatest in September and October, thus probably inducing a
second growth and lowering the quality of the beets. The average
temperature and the number of clear and cloudy days remained prac-
tically the same as in 1900, the rainfall being thus the only important
variant.

The tables given below show the analytical data obtained at Wash-
ington on these samples and also the meteorological conditions under
which the beets. were grown:

<tn<i/i/tir<i/ <l<it<i <>,, /,,r/,s </i-otrn «1 ///<

Sfadison.

//< ilf in •i-inii nt

Wlii-n received.

Removed
in top-
ping.

Average
weight

after

topping.

Esti-
mated
yield per

acre.

Siitfar in
juice.

Sutra r in
beets.

Purity
coefli-
cient.

1901.
October 1

l'i r ftitf.
10

Ottneet.

s -j

Ton*.
11 :;7.'.

l'i r a /if.
i;* ,")

l'i r ft nf.
12 9

80 3

October 9

15.1

8.3

9.3

11. 1

13.5

32

( Ictnli.T 1C)

') f

11 1

12.8

11 1

10 8

71 •'

October 24

14.9

15.8

10.5

18.8

l:1, 1

7t'> •'

Average

1" 1

10 9

11

13 1

!•) 7

77 -1

Meteorological data far M<nlix<m, IIV*., i:mi.

Monti).

Mean

tempera-
ture.

Total

preeipi-
tation.

Clear

day-.

Clomly

days.

Mav

°F.

1 Ill-Ill X.

•' 11

I

;•

.1 Illir

7n 1

" in

i >

.Inlv

7'i r,

1 ;M

1"

g

Avi-rai.''' and total

r,'i :;

6 35

21

88

AiiK'Ust

71.6

1 33

10

11

Sf|lll-II|tMT

i>l 1

1 1".

7

in

< id., 1,,-r

" IM

ID

<i

A \ i-ritL,'!- a nil I" ilal

i.l ^

27

i ..•!!.•[•. il .1 \ i-rau<- ami total

65 6

14 33

48

(k;

The fbllowing oommeitt OD the climatic oonditionfi as shown in the

above table is made by Mr. Shaw:

The season of I'.MM \\a>. a- a \\ln.li-, V«TV util'avoral.lc f(, most mips in Wisconsin.
The extremely hot ami •!?•>• weather during' July and AUL'UM .11. 1 irr.-at .lamaire to

crops all over the State, the southern part of the Slat.' Buffering most from the
drought. The average temperatuiv •>!' .Inly was -I.S" !•'. above normal, and in the
region along the western border of the State the a\«-rage for this month rose 10° F.
above the normal temperature. The rainfall during the season was very uneven,
the average for the northern and central comities beini: ne.irly I'.'l inches for the
seven months, March to Se[)temher, and only aliont II inches for the southern
comities. Tin- total rainfall for the seven months was, on the average for the \\ hole
State. L'O.ll inches, which is two-thirds of an inch below normal.

The following detailed report of the cultural data and other inter-
esting items as to the season's w;>rk was forwarded l»v Messrs. \Voll
and Shaw, in charge of the cooperative work at the \Vi>coi)sm Nation:

The land was plowed early in the spring of I'.lOl and a few weeks later prepared in
the usual manner for the planting of the beet seed by disking and pulveri/ing. The
planting was done by means of a hand seeder on May 1 7, in rows running north and
south, is inches apart. The experience of last year was duplicated this spring; a
hard crust was formed on the land through heavy rains a few days before the young
plants began showing themselves above ground; as most of the young plants prob-
ably would have been unable to break the crust formed, it was decided to reharrow
and replant the entire plat, and thin was accordingly done on June 7.

The {»lants began appearing above the ground about June 14. A terrific thunder-
storm appearing <>ii June li> did great damage to the beets, as to all crops in this
vicinity, and the soil of the eastern part of the field was washed badly, in places to
a depth of 2 or 3 inches; in other places the young beet plants were covered to a
similar depth. The field was thoroughly hoed, and although the crop at first seemed
entirely ruined, the beet plants gradually recovered. In the eastern part they seemed
struggling for existence against heavy odds for a week or more.

The plants were thinned from June 27 to July 1 , a strong plant being left every
9 inches in the row. Owing to the severe drought, no transplanting was attempted.
For over a month after this date no rain fell and the beets grew but little, the best
stand being in the southwest corner and the poorest in the southeast corner of the
field. The drought in this vicinity completely ruined some crops, and the prospects
were at this time that there would not be a yield of 50 per cent of the usual average
of any crop.

The sampling of the beets for analysis took place for the first time September 25,
and from that time up to harvest the variety No. 5772 was sampled e\ cry week. The
results of the analysis are given in the following table:

n//<i/;/ficn/ <l<it«

it/
Station.

<tf

Date of sampling.

Weight of

trimmed

beets.

Siitfiir in
juioe.

Suu'.-ir in

beets.

Purity
ooeffl-

cii-nt.

1901.
September 2f>

Ounce*.

l'i r <•• nl.
12.6

i'< i- ••• nt.
12.0

77. •_'

(),•!, ,i ,,.j- i

S II

i:i 7

i:: ii

7- 1

October 11

10.7

10.8

in.-j

7L6

9.4

12.4

11.7

7f>. 7

The sampling of No. 5772 was done by digging all l>eets in 60 feet of a row of aver-
age luxuriance and selecting three beets from the lot. Samples were forwarded to
the Bureau of Chemistry, United State- I >epartment of Agriculture. The low results
of analyses we re due to the immature condition of the beets. A rainy period set in
on October 7, which lasted for five days; over L' inches of rain fell during this time.

'28

The weather was raw and cold during the following days, and the harvesting was
postponed as long as practicable, so as to give the beets a chance to mature. Other
farm work and the uncertainty of the advanced season rendered it necessary, how-
ever, to begin the harvest on October 18. At that time the beets looked as if they
were still growing; but few dead leaves were observed, and the general appearance
of the beets was green and thrifty. The beets on the western half of the plat looked
much better than those on the eastern half.

A bushel basket of beets was taken from each load hauled off the field (1 to
2 bushels of each variety). The samples thus secured were washed to determine
shrinkage from adhering dirt. This amounted to 8.8 per cent for some of the differ-
ent varieties, and on the average to 5 per cent. The results obtained at harvest
were a.s follows:

Kst iniate< 1 yield per acre tons. . 9. 9

Sugar in the beets per cent.. 10.9

The low results obtained during the past season with the university farm beets
were somewhat of a surprise to us, although we did not expect much this year from
the adverse conditions under which the beets grew throughout the season, the most
important of which was the late date of planting. The peculiar climatic conditions,
together witli the short growing period which the beets had, fully explain the
results, and also show that soils which in ordinary seasons will produce rich beets,
higher in sugar than the common factory standard by at least several per cent, as
has been generally the case on our university farm soil, may with the same kind of
careful culture under exceptionally unfavorable circumstances produce beets that
would not be accepted at a sugar factory.

The results of the analyses of beets grown by Wisconsin farmers during this
season show that similar conditions did not prevail in all portions of the State.
From three to four weeks after the beets were harvested the weather was most favor-
able to the maturing of beets, being sunshiny and quite warm, and, if the harvesting
could have been postponed to this period, there can he no doubt that the results
would have been nearly up to the standard set by earlier work in this line done at
onr experiment station. This would, however, have brought the harvest nearly a
month and a half later than usual, which under ordinary fall conditions would be
impracticable or at least quite inconvenient. The possible improvement of beets
during the weeks following the harvest is suggested both by comparison with analyses
of beets received from outside points befo re and after the time of our beet harvest
and from what we know of the relations of weather conditions to the quality of the
beets irrown.

THE SOILS.

For the first time in the study of the offoct of environment on the
composition of the beet we have collected and examined a number of
the soils on which the, experiments were conducted. Unfortunately
data on SOUK- soils are wanting, owing" to the failure of the collaborat-
ing station to forward samples. The following data are therefore
•jivrn tentatively, and in so far as possible the influence of the soil
on the composition of the beets and the magnitude of the crop has
been studied. The notes descriptive of the soils received from the
stations follow *MI the next page.

29

DKSClvll'l l\ K N«»ll> ON SOILS.

(Nw. L>L':;S:; and 228
The Samples of ><>il received from the Indiana Mation were accom-

panied hy tlie following description:

I -end \ <m In-day a sample «i the soil and a sample »!' the subsoil from the land
on \\hich the work on sugar beets will l>e conducted. This land has not been used
for experimental plats, hut has been in hulk crops, following the general rotation of
corn, oate, wheat. and clover. P.cforc the last corn crop I think there was millet on
it. Last year the land was in clover with n poor stand, so that the Iteets are planted
upon a clover sod which consists largely of weeds. The land is in the northwest
corner of the lield immediately west of the station building and is opposite the old
greenhouse.

A(/ri<-nlf i//-<i/ ('<>ll«/<. N it'll.

Field No. 3, Nos. 23581 and 23582.
Field No. 6, Nos. 23583 and 23584.

Under date of November 11, 1901, Mr. J. D. Towiir, agriculturist
of the station, made the following report on the soil on which the
beets were grown:

In this mail I am sending you samples of the soil and subsoil on which the sugar
beets which we have been sending you from seed No. 5772 were grown. The sample
marked field No. 3 was a clover sod of two years' standing which was covered dur-
ing the winter uniformly with a coat of stable manure. As soon as we could work
the ground in the spring it was plowed to a depth of 8 inches, and suhsoiled 7 inches
deeper. This operation was immediately followed by the roller, and the ground was
harrowed at frequent intervals until May!*, when it was in fine condition, and an appli-
cation of 200 pounds of home-mixed fertili/er per acre was made. This fertili/er
consisted of one part nitrate of soda, one part muriate of potash, and two parts dis-
solved phosphate rock, the latter giving an analysis of about 17 percent total phos-
phoric acid. The nitrate of soda was '.Ni percent pure, and the muriate of potash
contained 49.85 per cent K.,0.

The soil samples were taken August 2S. In field No. .'5 four samples of the soil
were taken in the following manner, where the depths were respectively!* inches,
8£ inches, 6i inches, and 114 inches. In each case a hole was dug about 1 foot
square, leaving one perpendicular side from which a vertical slice about .'5 inches in
thickness was taken. The several samples were thoroughly mixed, and the sample
sent is a portion of this mixture. The samples of subsoil, taken immediately below
the soil samples, were from a depth of 1 foot, and were procured in a similar manner.

The samples from field No. (y were taken in a similar manner to those from Held
No. 3, though the soil, a heavier loam, was from a plot which has grown sugar beets
three years in succession, receiving absolutely no fertili/ r. The depth of soil in the
three places sampled was 8£, 8, and 9] inches. This plot was adjacent to others
wThich have received each year applications of fertilizers, but the remarkably low
yield of the No. 6 plot is due more to the lateness of the season at which the seed
was planted than to exhaustion of the soil fertility. I wrote you some time ago that
we had sown this seed on a piece of muck land, some of which was quite thoroughly
mixed with alluvial soil.

30

Logan, Utah.

(No.

The history of the plot used for the special beet work at the I'tsih
station was reported as follows:

Plot No. .'17!) is located on tlic upper level of tin- Logan delta. The soil is gravelly
and not nioiv than 2 feet in depth. It is, underlaid by a stratum of coarse porous
gravel perhaps I.'") feet or more in thickness. The virgin ground was broken inlS89.
Corn was grown «>n it in 1890 and 1891, oats in 1891', clover in 1893, wheat in 1894,
timothy in 189.") and 189<>, wheat in 1897, peas in 1898, wheat in 1899 and 1900, and
sugar beets, Tinted States Department of Agriculture No. 5772 "special," in 1901.
The plat was manured in the winter of 1900-1901.

, Fa.

(No. 23818.)

The soil in which the beets were raised is described as a brownish-
black loam. The following description of the taking of the sample
forwarded to Washington for anatysis and its general characteristics
was furnished l>y the director of the station:

Three positions, fairly representing the entire plot, were chosen, and the notes made
as follows:

ft/n'iiii/i/ \u. i. — The soil down to the subsoil measured ?', inches, dark brown color,
mellow loam in character. Color changed sharply at this point. Subsoil ocherous
j_rray, <|iiite friable, with considerable sand, yet firm.

< >l» iiiin/ \<>. .'. — Same general character of soil ; 9 inches down to the line of change
«»f color.

< >l» ii'ni'1 \". ./.— Soil S.I inches to the line of change of color. The loam is a lighter
brown in color. The subsoil is the same.

This land is a part of the experimental garden which was heavily manured un-til
the last three years, during which time it had received no barnyard manure and no
chemical fertilizers. It would IK' considered a very good type of garden soil, but in
its present state is not very rich, as it has been cropped heavily each year. bast
year on this area we grew a collection of Chinese vegetables, chiefly root crops, but
no beets or crops belonging to this family.

/ . UV.S-.
ffoe. 25051 and 25062.)

The history of the soil on which t he >no'ar beels of 1!M»1 were
i- a- follow-:

The plat set apart for the sugar beets at the university farm \\asa piece of land
one -half acre in area i bV> by 111 feet) in the northwestern portion of the Randall
field. The field has been ii ed as a pasture ever since this region was settled, and
\\a> in corn last year. 1 Miring late years, prior to 1 «.«)(). it serve. 1 as a pasture !'< irsheep
or cows, but has never been otherwise manured. The soil is a clay loam, and, like
moM of the land on the university farm, has a tendency to bake after rains. The
land produced a very go«id corn crop last year, and, as regards its state of fertility,
-h'.uld have been well ad.'ipted to the production of sugar beets. The lower part of
the field slopes to\\ard the northeast, and the unevenness in thesoil in different parts
of the field thus introduced rendered it somewhat unsatisfactory for variety tests.

81

Ithaca, N. Y.
(N,.. 8500

I'nfortunately the sample of soil was not taken at Ithaca until
aiul in the meanwhile a crop of oats and a crop of hay from clover
and timothy had been harvested. Tin- analysis of the sample of soil
from the plat on which the beets were grown in 1JH»1 is, however.
submitted with the above explanation.

J ///<*, //>//•</.
(No. 25114.)

The sample of soil from the plat on which the beets were grown in
1901 was not taken until HM»L>. and Mr. Atkinson, writing under date
of October US. P.MI2, in regard to this soil, says:

I may say that then1 was a crop of soy heans irrown on this plat during H»OL\ but I
have had samples of the soil of the first 6 inches, the second 6 inches, and the
third «> inches taken, and will forward them to you if you desire to have them now.
Of course I understand that the soy beans will have produced a very marked effect
on the .soil, particularly on the amount of nitrogen present. However, I shall dry
the samples and forward them to you, and hope that they may be of some use in
compiling results.

The samples sent were so .small that the three were mixed and one
analysis made.

Potomac Flats, Washington, I). C.

(No. 25125.)

This soil is an alluvial silt pumped from the Washington harbor
side of the Potomac River. It was first plowed in 1898, and has never
been fertilized. In 1899 the plat lay fallow, and in 1900 it was in
corn.

No sample was forwarded from this station, but the soil in which
the experiments were conducted is described a*s the clay loam of the
station farm known as bluegrass soil.

Geneva, N. Y.

No sample of soil was received from Geneva, but the* following

descriptive data were furnished, relating to the fertilixer experiment-:
The general character of the soil was that of a clay loam. Compara
tive experiments were carried on with farm manure and commercial
fertilizer, and for the first time in four years the beets raised on the
plats to which the commercial fertilizer had been applied were supe-
rior to those on which stable manure had been applied. rt This is

«For a full discussion of the work from this point of view see Bui. No. 205, N. Y.
Kxp. Sta., Influence of Manure on Sugar Beets, December, 1901.

32

attributed to the fact that an excessive amount of the latter was used.
The analytical data obtained at Geneva bearing on this point is shown
in the following table:

Agricultural and anuh/tic'tl tlnfa jnrjMurtl «t tin \< >'• York /v/y,, /•////,/// Maiiou, Geneva.

Fertilizer.

Quantity
of ferti-
lizer per

acre.

Beets grown.

Average

weight
after top-
ping.

Esti-
mated

yield per

acre.

Sugar in
juice.

Sugar in

beets.

Purity
coeffi-
cient.

Stable manure

I'd// mix.
80,000
1,000

Ovncet.

13.1
12.0

TOM.

14.9
12. 6

/'/ /• ft nt.
18.6
20.7

I'D- I'D/I.

l:1,. 1
15.6

80.0

87.7

Commercial fertilize

Average

12.7

13.8

19.7

14.5

83.4

ANALYSES OF SOILS.

In the comparative table of analyses given below, including such
stations as sent samples of soil, two methods of examination were
employed, namely, the method of the Association of Official Agricul-
tural Chemists," and the method of ascertaining the quantity of min-
eral matter soluble in N. 200 hydrochloric acid, as proposed by C. C.
Moore, of the Bureau of Chemistry.6 The first method gives practi-
cally all of the mineral matter in the soil that may become available in
many }rears. .The second method represents an attempt to determine
the quantity of mineral matter (in this case potash and phosphoric acid
only) which is available for the immediate uses of a crop. The method
has been developed, however, with special reference to the oat plant.
A glance at the analytical data obtained shows a wide difference in the
character of these soils, both in respect of the total amount of plant
food eventually available and the amount immediately available.

Chemical anali/xi'* <>f xn</<ir-t>«'t xuil*,

Btattoa*

Soil sample.

Iiisolu

We

matter.

\Vatrr

H 0

Vola-
tile.

Nitro-
gen

Soluble in
N '-'Oil bydro-
clilorie acid.

Serial

num-
ber.

Description.

Potaah

Phos-
phoric

acid
(P205).

I.ata Vctlr, lll<l

•_-_•: {s 1

28061
2M99
2556

Soil

Per

<•< nt.

7'.'. in
TV 71
PL 87

9108
91.87

71.64
89.00

82. 77
79.81
78. M

78. r.'
88, 17

Per

i; ul.

i.ee

i . -.12

.26

.34

. if,
. 2i;
i . •_•(-,
. 12
160

8, _' I

i . ::.

Per

cent.

8.00
2, 1 1

1. 1C.

l. to

Per

<•• ni.
0.296
. •J:'.'.i
.164

.091

. IC.l
.1)7(1

.201

. i/.j
. ic,:,
. Hi:.
..'(11
. 2C.7

. L88

Per
cent.
.0074
.0061
,OOM

.0102
.0062
.0080

.0198
.0040
.9021
.0077
.0079
.0068

Per

0 lit.

.(XHI17
.INKIM
.(MCHH'.'J

.00917

.(MHHI'.t

.00015
.00148
.00003

.00040
. 000025
.00003
.00020
.00020

Agricultural < 'oll.-i:.-.
Mich.

Lou'iin. I'lali

Subsoil

Soil nii-lil No. »)

Subsoil i tidd N.,. :;,..
Soil i field N... r.i
Subsoil Hi.. 1.1

Soil

mack-
Ma. IJM, ii, \Vi*

Soil

Ithaca. X. Y

Subsoil

Soil

Am. - Iowa
\Vashin-l. ,n. |> 0

ill.
do..

« Methods of Analysis, I'.ul. -Hi. Itrvisnl. I'.urran •»! Clinnistry. 1". S. Drpt.
''Journal American Chemical Sorirty. //'. 7'.».

33

t 'li.'inn'iil «///*//*/.«,x ../' *//!////•-/„,/ .S-..//X,

Station.

imple.

soluble in i '.ydrochloricacld.

Serial

num-
ber.

Description.

Sul-
phuric

acid
(80,),

PotMb

Lime

&

Phot

phoric
,]•,<>,,.

Lafayette. Iml

Agricultural College,
Mich.

I oiran I'tah

28661

23584

28818
25061

•J.M 1 1

25126

s,.il

Slll.soil

Per

,; ,,t.

0.08

.06

.07

.09
.06
.03
.07
.07

Per

<•> at.

. 12

. is

.78

. 22

cent.

. n;

.82

5.00
.14
.87

. .YJ

.16

. 17

Ptr

<•' ///.

. r,2

.29

..-.1

par

IV //f.

8.6]

1. 12

'.«. v.«

8.22
8. '-'7

c. ///.

.lit

.06

.06
.04
,24

.10

.04
.06
.13

.06

Soil (tiel.1 N,,

SuhM.il i field N,,. 8 -

soil (Mold No
subsoil (iicl.1 N,.. 5).
Soil

Hlackshur.tr. Va
Madison Wis

Soil

Ithaca. N.Y

\nifs Iowa

Slll.Soil

Soil

.09

do

Washington, D. C

«lo

J'.lOl."

soil sample.

Fine earth.

-=_

1

£

d

~

£

|

1

i

H

.

iC

d

o

station.

Serial
num-
ber.

Description.

nie malh

i-t

3

fj

I

-='

$£

]|

j!

d
d

a

^

'£

rr* ^

C3

^t c

. -

B

o

5

1

i

Jj

r

i

3

P et

r. <-t.

P Ct

/». <•/

P ct

P. c/.

P et

P. ct.

Lafayette, Ind . . .

22:x; Soil . .

i . '.i i

4.00

2. 22

2. (HI

5.76

22.00

22884 subsoil

3.00

1.37

3.12

2.06

1.72

5 35

18 15

Agricultural Col-

23581 i Soil (field No. :; i .

1.62

2. s 1

6.76

12.20

B4.64

15.84

is! 22

8.86

lege, Mich.

28582

Subsoil (field

.54

2. 7-

5.82

11.60

37.60

14.%

13.26

13.86

23584

soil ('field No. 6).

subsoil (field

1 . 7:1,
.80

5.18
L84

r,..xti

14,86
14.68

41.78
14,06

9.64
10.66

13.70

11. nj

7.21
7.12

No. 6).

Logan. 1'tah ....

23586

Soil....

3.24

.62

1.90

1.84

1"'. is

27. r,2

25.26

Klacksburtr Va

'238 IS

. .do..

2.07

2.68

L.68

M r, '

)s. Itl

Madison. Wis ... 25051 do

2.41

.48

2.26

11. 82

13.36

25052

Subsoil

66

!46

.94

•:: 68 10-52

tl'J Jtl

1 1 7»;

Ithaca, N.Y

Soil

2 09

6.10

L78

10.80

16.26

Washington, D.C

26126

Soil (from flats).

1.63

.34

1 . ">2

2! 94

24.00

21. tn

a Made in the Bureau of Soils. I". S. Department of Atrririilture.

^Organic matter determinations were made by tin- wrt combustion mrthod.

COMMENT ON ANALYSES.

study of the analytical data in the above taMes is interesting
from a scientitic point of view, and is also conclusive, in >o far as one
series of observations can be, in regard to the very >iuall etl'ect which
the composition of the soil has upon the su^ar content of the beet.
AVhile it is doubtless true that the character of the soil influence- to a
greater or less degree the quality of some crops, it is certain that it-
principal influence in the case of the suo-ar beet is exerted alnm-t
exclusively upon the magnitude of the crop. In this connection the
writer would like to recall from personal experience two instance-

23843— No. 7-4—03 3

34

showing how widely different kinds of soil 111113' produce beets which
have practically the same content of sugar. A few 3Tears ago samples
of beets were received from Chautauqua County. X. Y.. which were
grown in a reclaimed swamp whore the drainage had been so perfected
as to permit the cultivation of the soil. The beets grown in this soil,
extreme^ rich in vegetable mold, had a vei\v high content of sugar.
On the other hand, samples of beets taken from almost a pure sand
near the Kankakee River in Indiana, where there was scarcely any
organic matter in the soil, had almost the same content of sugar.
These two t3^pes of soil were as entirehr different as can well be
imagined.

RELATION OF CROP TO THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE SOIL.

Among the physical properties of the soils in question, determined
for us by the Bureau of Soils of this Department, the first to be
considered is the content of clay. The soil having the lowest amount
of clay was that from field No. 6, Agricultural College, Mich., T.i^
per cent. Low clay content is usualty associated with a high percent-
age of sand, and such is the case in this instance, the total sand of all
dimensions being nearly 75 per cent. The highest (flay content is
found in the sample from Utah, namely, '2i\.(\'2 per cent. This, of
course, would indicate a low percentage of sand, Avhich, in point
of fact, is only about 45 per cent. The percentages of clay in the
three soils producing the beets with the highest content of sugar
(about 14.6 per cent in each case) were as follows: In the sample from
Agricultural College, Mich, (field 3), 8.86 per cent; in that from
Ithaca, N. Y., 19.98 per cent, and in that from Lafayette, Ind.. ±2 per
cent, while the soil producing the poorest beets, namely. Washington,
D. C., had 21.4 percent of cW. It is evident from a stud3' of the fig-
ures grouped in the folio wing table that, while the texture of the soil, as
shown by the mechanical analysis, undoubtedly has a direct bearing on
the yield per acre, it has practically no effect, on the content of >ugur
in the beet:

i,f xoilx <i, i<l 'lulu rii/ni-iliii;/ tin

hn /.v t/rnini fin r«>,i.

Serial

1IU1II-

Hation.

SllUiir l.rrt (Top.

Mrrhuiik'al niiiily-fs of >«»ils.

content.

Virl.l

Clay.

silt.

Total

aand.

Washington

!'• r i; ,,t.

12.7

l::. 1

ii..;

ii..;

11.7

Ton*.

8. i

u

10

12.6

\^. \

I'll- <•! lit.

2L40

L8
22
L9.W

I'D' <•< lit.

M.12

18.22

Percent,

69.34

MadNon Wiv

>lnirK. Vll

• •tti- I Hi 1

\. V

.U'rirultural Colk-L'i- Midi '•

"Only one c'stiuintc.

b Field

RKI.ATIoV 01 CROP I" H IK « lIKMIt VI. Pi;. 'I'l'l; I'l I- Of HIK BOIL.

Iii con>iderintr the cdccl of the chemical compo^ii ion of the -oil
upon the character and magnitude of the crop we have a problem of
intricate diflieiilties. If we regard the soil in the light of the total
plant food contained therein as indicated by treatment with hot con-
centrated hydrochloric acid for a considerable period of time we
introduce figures which must he foreign to the problem in question.
In point of fact, in order to have any accurate conception of tliU
problem it is necessary to ditl'erentiate the amount of any given plant
food consumed by a given crop from the total Mipply which is present.
This might be illustrated by an attempt to determine how much
nourishment would be given a man of average sixe during a da\ by
analy/ing the total nourishment in a ban-el of flour from which his
day's supply of bread has been made. The actual effect produced
upon the man would not be represented by the total amount of flour in
the barrel, but only by the total amount of flour he consumed. There-
fore, as before .stated, in considering the influence of the composition
of the soil upon that of the beet and the magnitude of the crop it is
important to know first the total quantity of plant food present, and
next to ascertain if possible what portions are immediately available
for the use of the crop. The following table has been arranged in order
that the interrelations of these factors may be more conveniently
observed:

Ch, mini! tinnfii*,* '//'A-O//.S' (i,,'l ilntii

!,!'/ tin' o^y/x df fUffOT /»<'* yi'nii'ii fh,-fn,,.

Serial
num-
ber.

Station.

Sugar-beet crop.

Chemi«-al aual.VM-s of soils.

Sugar

content.

Yield
per acre.

Nitrogen.

Potash.

Phovpimric arid.

Total.

Availa-
ble.

Total.

Avnila-

Ue.

•25125.
23061.
28818.

25099.
28661.

Washington .
M;'<li»on, Wis

l'i r <•• nt.
8.5
12.7
13.1
14.6
14.6
14.7

Zbn*
8.1

11.0
10.0
no. 4
12.6
15.1

I'i r nut.

0.183
.165
.1M

.201
.164

/'</• n ,,t.
0.39

,80
,12

I'l /' <•' !lt.

0.0062

.0040
.0198
.0074

.0077
.0036

/•' /• .-/ ///.
0.03
.04
.10
.12
.13
.06

0.00020
.00040

.00003
.00017
.00003
.00062

Blacksburg. Va
Lafavi-tte. Inrt
Ithaca \ Y

Agricultural College,
Mich.b

«One estimate only.

'• Fi.-l'l No.

Our studies of this problem are too restricted to justify any con-
clusion at present further than to call attention again to the patent
fact that the quality of this crop is affected only in a minor degree by
the chemical and physical properties of the soil. The case is <|iiite
different in respect to the kind of crop best >uited to a given soil and
the magnitude of the harvest. These two items are intimately asso-
ciated both with the texture of the soil and the quantity of plant food
therein.

36

SUMMARY OF DATA.

-IJ of (iijrii-iilturol <m<l iiiKiIi/tira/ <l<tt<i, 1901.

Station.

Mean
weight
of topped
beets.

Kstimated
yield '
per acre.

Sugar in
beet

Coefficient
of purity.

Washington D C

Ounces.

7 9

TOM,

s 1

/'' r <•' nt.

67 3

I e\incrtoii Kv "

10.4

8

9

71

10.9

11

!•> 7

77 I

Black-bury Va . .

4.5

10

13.1

77 r.

14 °

12.9

14 1

80 2

I o'ran ("tali

24. 2

23.4

14.2

79.1

\>rricultural College Midi

/• v :;

f> 10. 2

1 1 r,

si •">

laf.-ivette Ind "

s."

f-5.4

14.6

Ithaca N" Y

13.1

12 r.

1 1 C,

7'» '•

Geneva X Y

17.2

13.8

15.8

83. '.'

o One sample analyzed at Washington,
•age of lat<

average yield l.\l tons.
'•< in.- estimate, for November 1, 1901.

and

Siij/niKiri/ of meteorological <lntu,

t<>

, 1901.

Station.

Mean
temper-
ature.

Precipi-
tation.

Clear

day-.

Cloudy

day-.

Snn-
Bhine.

Washington D C

°F.

69

Inches.

19.34

81

49

I'< r '''tit.
M

Lexington, Kv

69.3

16.23

K

18

78

Madi-on Wis

65.6

14.33

(s

66

Blaeksburg Ya

63 8

:;•' (»s

79

53

" •">:! 7

Vllles It>\va

f,7 '.»

16. 15

127

19

'Mi«t .s:>

1 ' '"-in I'tah

64

7 37

130

37

••7t; :;

VLTJciiltural College Mich

62.8

19 M

96

37

rf61.8

I a fa v»'t t»' I I'd

68 6

16 41

74

Eg

'69 85

Ithaca \ Y

63.4

17.44

49

M

66

(ii'in-va N" ^"

65 5

18 03

<

^ee Ithac

i

" Avmiu'r <,f \veekly data furnished by Blacksburtf station.
'•( (bverved at I>es Moines.

c Observed at Salt Lake.

•'Sunshine record for Detroit.
' < thsorved at Indianapolis.

of i/, nil, In- ilnttl j'nr ,.1'1,1'fi lilt ill xttlliniix.

Station.

Avenge

length of
day. «

LatitiKle.'-

Alti-
tude.''

Wa-hington D C

/,. ,n.
14 "3

o / // '
38 53 23

Feet.

Lcxinu'toii, Kv

14 18

38 0-J 26

'.'7'.'

Madi-oti Wis

11 It

i:; (U :;r,

Bhu-ksbiirg. Ya

11 It

37 14 00

•J 1IHI

Allli1- Iii\\a

1 1 :;^

42 02 00

''17

1,'iL'au I'tah

1 1 ::7

41 44 00

Agricultural College Mich •'

1 1 I"

I1 45 00

M7

n :;n

in "3 00

M2

\ Y

1 1 11

)' 'J7 00

sill

(..•n.-va \ Y

it it

•:? 00

"Th.-, tiL-ur.- an- fur May !•• Au.irust. inclu-ive. and arc from the rccord> <>i the D. 8. ]

itory.
'•imta furnUhed i.y th.- r. >. Coaal and Geodetic survey.

••Determination- i.-r Laii-in^. Mich.

CONCLUSIONS.

As iii the previous report on this subject, the data obtained in the

studies described in the previous pages are for convenience platted
graphically in three charts, ligx. 1. •_>. and 3.

Chart No. 1 shows the percentage of sugar in the l>eet. the latitude
of the station, and the sunshine record, including tin- total per-
centage and it- di-t rihution. The plat is based upon the pnvrniage
of sugar in the beets, beginning with the station having the low.--!
record ami ending with that having the highest. Since North ( 'aro-
lina has dropped out of the list of stations cooperating. Washingt'-n
en jo\'s tht* distinction of having produced beets with the lowot content
of sugar. In order of sugar content, the other stations are arranged
in an ascending scale, as follows: Lexington, Madison, Blackshurg.
Ames. Agricultural College, Lafayette, Ithaca, and Geneva.

In general it may be seen that the latitude, as in the first year's
experiments, follows the sugar content. A notable exception to this
is found in the case of Blaeksburg. The reason of this exception has
been stated, namely, the great altitude of the Blacksburg station.
This fact, for the illustration of which the Blacksburg station was
especially selected, indicates that, in platting the latitude curve, some
method of reducing it to sea level should be introduced. Just what
method is best suited for this purpose can not be stated or even sug-
gested. It is evident, however, that this is a problem which must
receive due consideration, and that this calculation must he a special
one for each case. For instance, the effect of altitude on temperature
on a mountain plateau like that of Blacksburg would be very different
from the effect of the same altitude upon the temperature on a vast
plain like that extending around Ames. Iowa, or even Lexington,
Ky. These problems are of the utmost meteorological and scientific
import, and the depression in the curve of latitude, as illustrated in
this chart by the Blacksburg station, is of the greatest interest. Klim-
inating this one point, it will be seen that the content of Migar varies
practically with the latitude, the only other exception to this being
the data from the Lafa\Tette station, which from the tir>t of the collab-
orative studies have been found to be very erratic.

The curve showing the percentage of sunshine is broken, because no
data for the Madison station is procurable. Kentucky . a- will be -.-en.
had the maximum percentage of sunshine platted, namely. 7:, per cent.
The lowest percentage of sunshine was that of the Blacksburg station,
namely, 53.7 per cent. The next highest was that of the station- at
Ames and Lafayette, the}' having the same percentage, namely. 69.9
per cent. The percentage of sunshine seems to have but little effect
upon the sugar content, and it appears to be well established that the
chemical activities of the sun's light, in promoting the condensation

0CD

LATQTOOC ©F STATION,

EXPLANA.T ION.

PERCENTAGE OF SUGAR IN THE BEET

PERCENTAGE OF SUNSHINE DURING PERIOD COVERED

NUMBER OF CLEAR DAYS IN THE MONTH I
LATITUDE OF STATION

47

oz:

§i

^
5uj
rz

rts)

°i
m

FIG. 1.— Showing percentage of sugar in the beet, latitude <>f -uuiim. ;m«l ^-unshine record.

89

of carbohydrate molecules in the chlorophyll celU, are not notahlv
diminished by filtration through aqueous vapor.

The distribution of the sunshine as indicated by the numl.er of dear
days in each month is also an interest ing part of the problem. Kn>in
the chart. Washington and AIIH-S appear to have had the nio^t unifonu
distribution of dear days that is. the number was <|uite uniform for
each month. The smallest number of clear da\> \\a^ experienced at
Madison; especially is this true of May, June, and September. The
largest numl>er of clear day- \\a- experienced at Ames. ,!ulv and
August being conspicuous in this particular. Ithaca stand- next to
Madison in regard to the small number of clear days, having alnn»t
the same record. As in the case of sunshine, it mii-t be >;iid that the
actual ])redominance of clear days is not to be reckoned a> an important
factor, except in so far as it may indicate drought, and thus interfere
with the magnitude of the crop. Thus the large number of clear davs
at Ames was accomplished by excessively dry weather in 11M.H.

Chart No. '2 shows the percentage of sugar in the beet, the purity of
the juice, the temperature, and the average length of day at the Nation.
The most interesting feature of this chart is the relation between the
average length of day and the sugar in the beet. Eliminating, as in
the case of latitude, the Blacksburg station, where the days, on account
of the southern latitude, were short, and ignoring the slight variation
at Lafayette, we rind that there is a general agreement in the direction
of the two curves, representing the percentage of sugar in the beet
and the length of the day. In other words, it may be generally stated,
as the result of an inspection of this chart, that the percentage of sugar
in the beet increases with the length of the da\T. This is in harnionv
with the commonly accepted theory of the correlation of the functional
activity of the chlorophyll cells and the light of the sun. Tinier the
same general conditions it is evident that the longer the hours of
activity the greater the amount of work accomplished: hence, with
longer hours of sunlight the quantity of carbohydrates formed will be
greater.

The temperature curve, as in chart '2 of Bulletin »I4. crosses the
curve of sugar content, but not symmetrically, as in the chart just men-
tioned. One reason of this hick of symmetry i> the low temperature
of the Blacksburg station. On the other hand, a phenomenally high
temperature is recorded for the Lafayette station. While showing
more irregularities than the curves representing latitude and length
of day, it is yet evident that the tendency of the Migar i- to dimini>h
as the temperature increase's. The purity curve. a> wa> to be expected.
follows in general the percentage of sugar in the beet.

Chart No. 3 shows the percentage of sugar in the beet, the altitude
of the station, and the rainfall record, both the totals and the distri-
bution bv months.

40

Ki'.. •_'.— shuwiii.ir percentage ri *\\w\r in tin- litrt. purity <.f juii-f. ifin].«Tjitun-. iin«l ;IV«T:IUC U-nirth

of ilny nt -tiitiim.

41

I:

IS

in

fi

<s

BEIST,

EXPLANATION.

PLRCLNTAGC Or SUGAR IN THL BCET

TOTAL INCHES Of RAINFALL DURING PERIOD COVERED-
INCHES OF RAINFALL DURING EACH MONTH ••••I Hffi
ALTITUDE OF STATION — — =

FIG. 3.— Phowh-g percentage of sugar in tin- boot, altitude of station, ami rainfall rrronl.

23843— No. 74—03 4

42

The remarkable curve showing the altitude of the Blaeksburg station
is first to be noted. X<> more striking effect of environment on the
composition of the beet could be given than that shown here. It is
the altitude in this case which has secured so high a content of sugar
in the beet. This station, which has the lowest latitude, shows almost
the mean percentage of sugar found at the other stations. Another
important etl'ect of altitude is shown at the Washington station, which
is practically at sea level, where the lowest altitude coincides with the
lowest percentage of sugar. The only propel- way to study the etiect
of altitude, as has already been intimated, is in connection with other
physical features of the environment, such as mountain ranges, broad
and extensive plateaus, etc. Altitude evidently does not in every case
tend to increase the content of sugar. This is illustrated in the case
of Ithaca and Geneva. Ithaca is almost 4on feet higher than Geneva
and yet the sugar content of the beets grown at Geneva in the two
seasons covered by this experiment has been higher than at Ithaca.

The rainfall, as is shown by the curve, was smallest at Madison.
Other areas receiving a small rainfall were Ames, Lafayette, and Lex-
ington. The greatest amount of rainfall was at Blacksburg. and the
next greatest at Agricultural College, Mich., and at Washington.
The actual amount of rainfall does not have so great an influence on
the composition of the beet as does its distribution. It has been shown
that excellent beets can be produced with a rather deficient supply of
rain, as was the case at Madison, at Ames, and at Lafayette. On the
other hand, an excessive amount of rain is not' necessarily destructive
of -ugar content, as is illustrated by the plat at the Blacksburg station.
In other words, it may be stated that, given a sufficient quantity of
water to >ccmv normal growth, the beet is not very sensitive either to
a -lightly diminished or a slightly increased supply. It is important,
however, that the rainfall be not too great in September, which is the
period of ripening, nor in October, the season of harvesting.

o

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