The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-10
SUGAR BEET CULTURE +.
Results or the Agricultural DEPARTMENT. En-
periments Coming in Now.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9.-Samples OF beets raised
by about 500 farmers in twenty.four States have
been received during the week at the Agricul.
tural Department, and the chemists Of the de.
partment are Analysing them. The result of
each analysis will be mailed to the farmer who
sent the beets, and the whole work will be re-
viewed in a report to the Secretary.
Last spring the department sent packages of
sugar beet seeds to 10000 farmers in every
State of the Union. The seeds were furnished
by the American Beet Sugar Association. In
addition from 5000 to 5000 packages of seeds
were sent out to farmers by State agricultural
stations. With each package were sent direc-
lions for the preparation of the soil, and the cuL
ture, harvesting. and sampling of the beets.
Some interesting facts have been learned by
the Government experts as a result OF the beet
experiments. The best results have been
obtained from experiments conducted in States
which are included in the beet belt. This beet
belt was marked out by Prof. Wiley in 1889 &C.
cording TO theoretical considerations of climate
and soil: The central line which, theoretically,
marks the region of most successful sugar.beet
passes up the Hudson River to Albany; thence
turning westward it runs near Syracuse and ex-
of Lake Erie near Sandusky; turning then in a
northwesterly direction 1t enters Michigan and
Ts%Shies IL then h'f aoisF P3 o a s ,n th%t se4fs d ns"r
tion it enters the State OF Indiana. near South
Bend, passes through Michigan City, then In n
cities OF Chicago and Madison. reaching its
highest point near st. Paul. Thence IL extends
In q south westerly direction until 1t enters tho
State of South Dakota. whore IL turns again
northwest and reaches it's highest point In
Dakota Just above the forty.hfth parallel
Of latitude. where 1t crosses the Mis-;
due south. following very closely the 1Olst
degree OF longitude until 1t leaves the State of
Nebraska, near the northeast corner Of Colo
RADIO; passing in q southwesterly direction
through Colorado 1t reaches Pueblo. whence 1t
passes IN q slightly southeasterly direction into
passes in a very irregular line through the
States OF California, Oregon and Washington.
Extending for u distance of 100 miles on each
side of this line Is the beet belt.
samples received IL appears that New York and
New Jersey make by far the best showing:
About fifty samples n day are being received
now by the department. and this number will
probably be increased to 100 or $50 as soon AZ
the harvest is we'll under way. In Now York
rine, strength and purity, generally speaking.
In New Jersey the same Is true, except that IN
many cases the beets were small. 1t Is believed
that farmers cannot afford TO raise sugar beets
reaching a size of less than ten ounces. The
most desirable size weighs twenty ounces.
culture can be conducted with profit, but nearly
oil the samples. received from that State thus
far are poor. They are small and show n low
degree OF sweetness. The cause Is believed to
be over.irrlgatiOn. The Government experts
declare that irrigated land can be made OF the
tion is to be avoided.
In about half OF the States from which samples
have been received tho acreage Is reported az
very good.