for the Purpofe of affording Sugar. , ■ 2j,i 



which confequently had not been tranfplanted, but had received their full growth in the 

 places where they germinated from feed. 



On the contrary, thofe roots from Magdeburg and Halberftadt afForded only pulp and ill- 

 tafted fyrup, in which no cryftals of fugar were formed, i. Thefe were ftrong and thick, 

 and confequently grew at a greater diftance from each other, by which they increafed in* 

 bulk. 2. Their heads were large, and the marks where the leaves had been cut off were 

 diftinitly perceivable by the ftalks which remained. 3. They poffelTed the round figure 

 which is the effeft of tranfplantation ; and is very feldom obtained even by the ufe of feeds 

 obtained from tranfplanted roots. This laft event takes place only when the feed is pro- 

 cured through feveral generations from tranfplanted roots. For if this has been done only 

 by one generation, the variety of a rounded root by that means produced immediately paffes 

 again into a root of a fpindle or long conical form. 



27. It remains now to recapitulate the contents of this paper in a few words, with fuch 

 explanations as may be neceflary. 



In my method of cultivation, the ground is wholly covered with leaves, and confequently 

 fhaded, by jeafon of the nearnefs of the plants to each odier ; but, on the contrary, thofe roots 

 which have been cultivated to feed cattle, are fown or planted at a much greater, and ufually 

 double that diftance. This very neceflary adumbration is maintained by taking care not to 

 cut the leaves till the roots themfelves are gathered. The accefs of light to the furface of 

 the field, to the great injury of the formation and accumulation of the faccharine matter in 

 the root, is not the only bad confequence; there is another noxious efFe6l, namely, that it 

 promotes the drying of the ground in hot feafons, which is always very detrimental. More- 

 over, the natural growth of the roots is, by this means, necefliarlly difturbed, and cannot be pro- 

 duftive of good confequences. Again, if the earth be not removed from the plant, the adtion 

 of light on the top of the root is checked ; and the feparation of the ground, which is done in 

 many places, tends only to increafe the fize of the root. Laflly, by producing the roots 

 from feed which has been fown on the fpot where the plant is to remain, this advantage is 

 obtained, that the root acquires a fpindle (hape, penetrates deeper into the ground, and 

 therefore acquires more fweetnefs, for it is always fweeter in the lower than upper parts. 

 To conclude, the projedtion out of one part of the root out of the ground, which obtains in 

 the growth of almoft all roots, and efpecially of the runkelriibe, is by this method prevented. 

 The caufe of this prominence confifts in this : that the earth — which it is impoflible to avoid 

 —is loofened on the fpot where the plant is inferred. It finks again on becoming firm, and 

 hence the upper part of the root becomes prominent. Another and the principal caufe of 

 this effect arifes from the circumftance, that on tranfplanting the plant, either the point of 

 the root is taken off, or, on account of its tendernefs, unintentionally injured. Nor does it 

 again acquire an upright pofition ; fo that, for all thefe reafons, it cannot proceed in growing 

 downwards perpendicularly. Whence the root does not continue in the flender conical 

 form which it had, and would have preferved, if it had not been tranfplanted ; It then forms a 

 more roundifli and nodular root, which in the progrefs of its vegetation (r.ot being able to 



fpread 



