f^ - Culture vf the Btet. — Decompofitton sf Borax. 



fpread downwards from the too great refiftance of the foil) rifes upwards, and protubcrates 

 more or lefs from the earth, in proportion to its ftronger or weaker growth. Thus circum- 

 ftanced, the prominent part becomes fo modified in its conftituent parts by the adtion of 

 lioht, that it not only yields lefs of fugar, but aifo adulterates the faccharine matter, copioufly 

 contained in the lower part, with fo many noxious principles, that the preparation of fugar 

 from the root is rendered very difficult, and fometimes even impoflible. 



28. From thefe confidcrations we may deduce the reafon why the manufa£turing of fugar 

 in our country has not fucceeded before, though it might be carried on in the large way 

 with a real and lading profit, notwithftanding the low prices of the raw fugar from India. 

 The caufe confifts merely in the want of an acquaintance widi the various modifications 

 under which the runkelriibe ought to be cultivated, if intended for the manufaftory of fugar 

 to a decided advantage, as has been feveral times mentioned. Before this time, and before 

 the difcovery of the means of increafing the faccharine matter in this kind of root, enquirers 

 could only prepare fugar from the runkelriibe and the various fpecies of the beta vulgaris 

 Llnn<si with a fcientific view, rather than for purpofes of public utility. 



To afcertain the prefer method of culture, by which this root might be produced abound- 

 ing in fugar, and deficient in mucilage, was therefore the only expedient to obtain the latter 

 xdvantage to the puMic. And it is only from fuch a root, highly abundant in faccharine 

 contents, that raw fugar can profitably be made, and freed from its mucilaginous and other 

 parts, by means of a very fimple, and not in the leaft expenfive, procefs, of preflure and cry- 

 ftaliization ; which I {hall hereafter communicate. 



III. 



On the Decompofition of the Acid of Borax, or Sedative Salt. By LAURENCE DE Crell, 

 M.D. F.R.S. Loudon and Edinburgh, and M.R.LA. Tranjlated from the German. 



(Concluded from page 257, Vol. III.) 



XLXPER. XXXIV. To obviate the objeflion, that fedative fait alone would perhaps defla- 

 grate with melted nitre, I made that experiment alfo, but in vain. Not the fmalleft defla- 

 gration took place, even when both were melted together for many hours. 



Exper. XXXV. Another objedlion may be made, namely, that in diftilling the muriatic 

 acid from manganefe, part of the latter had pafTed over with the acid ; and, in the frequent dif- 

 tillations of the fedative fait, had been depofited upon it, and thus deflagrated. But, on 

 throwing frefh pulverized or folid manganefe, either fuch as is ufually fold, or quite pure, 

 heated to rednefs, into melted nitre, not the fmalleft deflagration took place. 



Exper. XXXVI. to L. Inftead of the interrupted heat ufed in the foregoing experiments, 

 I BOW expofed half an ounce of the fait, with three ounces of the oxygenated muriatic acid, to 

 a continued heat, of between 200° and 300" of Fahrenheit. The fluid had nearly evaporated 



