People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1897 — Sugar Beet Tests In Indiana. [ARTICLE]

Sugar Beet Tests In Indiana.

Early in April the Indiana Agricultural experiment station received a quantity of sugar beet seed sent to it by the United States Department of Agriculture for distribution in this State. By arrangement with the Government, this seed was to be disiributed to persons in Indiana who would agree to grow a certain specified area of beets under the direction of the Station, and at the proper time would harvest the roots and send samples to the Station for examintion for sugar content.

This seed has now been distributed to the proper parties in Indiana, and the Station will be unable to send out more this season. This statement is made for the benefit of those contem plating writing for seed, and as explanatory to those who have written for seed that has not been sent them.

A great deal is being said and Written at the present time concerning sugar beet culture in the United States. Beet sugar factories are being built at several points, and farmers are planting sugar beet seeds in many States this spring. It will interest the readers of this journal to know that the Indiana Experiment Station for nine consecutive years has been engaged in growing sugar beets and studying the adaptability of this State to profitable sugar beet culture. In February 1891, a bulletin was issued by the Station containing information on seed, climate, planting, cultivation and harvesting of sugar beets, with results of sugar tests of beets grown in different counties of the State under the direction of the Station or the U. S. Dept, of Agriculture. in April 1892, another bulletin contained additional information along the same line, with results of examination of many beets grown under station direction in different counties in 1891, was published. Tljis bulletin also contained an account of a new disease of sugar' beets. In 1892, beet seeds were sent to 250 points in 92 counties in Indiana by the Station, and a bulletin in March 1893 contained 1 a report of this work. In the

spring of 1893 seed was sent to 167 sub stations. InMarchlß64, a 28 page illustrated bulletin on sugar beets, containing much information with many more Indiana tests was published. In March 1895, another bulletin contained considerable data along the same line, with analyses of beets grown in 23 different counties of the state in 1894. m both 1895 and 1896 beet experiments were continued, and the same may be said for 1897, on a better scale than ever before. This station has demonstrated that Indiana is in the beet sugar producing belt, though the work of 1897 it is hoped will add much to our data on the subject. The Station will be glad to assist all persons in the State who may desire information in future on the sugar beet question. C. S. Plumb, Director. —Purdue University Agricultur al Experiment Station.