BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



109 



various stages of growth is indicated by 'the following results 

 obtained by Lotmann : 



Water 



Cellulose and Pectin 



Sugar.. .. 



Albuminoids, etc .. . . 

 Ash 



83.5 



5.9 



9 1 



.7 



.8 



As the percentage of sugar mainly depends on the maturity of 

 the root, the cultivators of the sugar beet plant early and avoid 

 BO-called stimulating manures. Nitrogenous manures tend to 

 produce a rapid, luxuriant growth, hence especial care is exer- 

 cised in their preparation and use in this culture. But as such 

 manures are at the base of the whole system of manuring, and 

 commercial manures only relied on as an aid, it were useless to 

 attempt to argue them away. In order to get the full benefit 

 from 3^ard manure, without any of its bad effects, it should be 

 applied in autumn, and plowed in deep — the beet is a deep feeder. 

 If it is necessary to manure in spring, use only well rotted com- 

 post. When stable manure is largely used, sugar beets are 

 usually raised in a rotation after a heavily manured grain crop ; 

 thus allowing for the thorough disintegration of the dung. The 

 same remarks apply to the plowing in of green crops for manure. 

 On account of the highly beneficial effect of green manures on the 

 physical condition of the soil, and the fact that the beet feeds 

 largely on the atmosphere, and that proper mechanical condition 

 increases the power of the beet to draw nutriment from the air, 

 Buch manures have special value ; the only precaution necessary 

 being to apply them a sufficiently long time before the beets are 

 planted, to become thoroughly disintegrated. ( Goessmann.) 



An interesting point in regard to size of beets employed in 

 sugar manufacture, is shown by the different systems of taxation 

 in France and Germany. In the latter country the weight of roots 

 is taxed, and the system results in all efforts being directed to the 

 production of small roots and a high percentage of sugar. To 

 this end the systems of manuring are particularly adapted. While 

 in France, the taxation is upon the amount of sugar produced, 

 and here spring manuring is more freely practiced, resulting in a 

 smaller percentage of sugar but a larger yield of roots. The 



