BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 107 



" Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap," is especially 

 applicable in this case. The sugar beet is a lineal descendant of 

 the wild beet, Beta maritima, of the Mediterranean sea coast, and 

 by change of soil and climate, by selection and cultivation, has got 

 to be a very different plant from its progenitor. 



The difference between the sugar beet of to-day, and its cousin 

 the wild beet, is well illustrated by the ash analyses of the roots : 



Sugar beet. Wild beet. 



Potash 48.9 30.1 



Soda 7.6 34.2 



Lime 8.8 3.1 



Magnesia '. 5.5 3.2 



Chlorine 65 18 5 



Sulphuric acid 20 38 



Phosphoric acid 7.6 3.5 



Silicic acid 13.1 3.6 



The table shows that though the wild beet may be called a soda 

 plant, the sugar beet is decidedly a potash plant. And in similar 

 proportion does the content of sugar differ in the juice of the two 

 varieties. The sugar beet is very susceptible to change in culti- 

 vation, and under improper treatment or neglect soon deteriorates. 

 And the several varieties differ nearly as the localities in which 

 they are grown and the treatment they receive. Professor Goess- 

 mann found the sugar in the juice of the various sorts tried in his 

 experiments on the Agricultural College farm to range from 5.035 

 to 8.004 per cent, in common mangolds, and Vienna red, yellow, 

 and white globe beets, to 15.50 per cent, in the best sugar beet. 

 Lane's Improved Imperial sugar beet, for stock feeding, yielding 

 6.67 per cent, of sugar in the juice. By careful selection and cul- 

 tivation, Vilmorin, originator of the sugar beet of that name, suc- 

 ceeded in producing roots that yielded 21 per cent, of sugar, a 

 higher percentage than is contained in the sugar cane. But while 

 the Vilmorin beet has yielded the highest percentage of sugar, it 

 is rather more susceptible to variation. The Imperial and Electo- 

 rial of Saxony have succeeded best in the hands of cultivators in 

 this country. These results have been attained by selection, close 

 attention to "pedigrees," study of soils, climates, and manures, 

 and careful cultivation. 



The .soil for sugar beet cultivation should early engage the far- 

 mer's attention. The best soil for this purpose is a deep, mellow, 

 sandy loam, with a comparatively light and permeable subsoil, and 

 Bomewhat rich in thoroughly decomposed organic matter. A clay 



