Yield of Roots Per Acre.

The weight of the crop of roots gathered, from 1 hectare (2½ acres) on the Continent of Europe varies considerably, but the following figures may give some idea of the subject:—In Austria—21 to 29 tons, yielding from 3,080 to 4,336lbs of sugar. Bohemia—From 23 to 29 tons, yielding from 3,344 to 4,640lbs of sugar. France—30 tons, yielding 4,4641bs of sugar. The weight of roots per acre was originally far less than at present. M. Captal counted in round numbers 20 tons per hectare (2½ acres), later on 24 tons. More recently still, Dr. Sace, 40 tons. M. Baruchson informs us that in the North of France a hectare often produces 50 tons. And it is on record that 38 tons of superior roots have been produced on an English acre of land, a yield which German and French authorities encourage us to believe may in time be equalled on all sides. Sir Robert Kane, Professor Sullivan, and M. Gages state that the quantity grown in Ireland has been 16 to 40 tons per acre. They obtained a per centage of sugar in some instances of 16 per cent, (equal to that of the sugar cane), and in many others superior to any the beet had previously yielded abroad, and they express their conviction that in the course of agricultural and scientific progress beet generally would be made to yield as much as its rival.

In France the ratio of growing and harvesting a crop of beet, compared with that of growing and harvesting a crop of wheat, is as 42.75 is to 35, or, in other words, it takes 22 per cent, or not quite ¼ more to produce one acre of beets than it does to cultivate one acre of wheat. The proportion of leaves to roots in beet varies from 50 to 78 per cent, by weight.