_110 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



sugar percentage is 6 in France to 8 in Germany. The same 

 objections to the use of green manures on sugar beet laud, apply- 

 to prairie soils, and recently cleared woodland, which are full of 

 undeco.mpoKed organic matter. The truth of this has a practical 

 illustration in the difficulties attending the first few years of sugar 

 beet cultivation at Freeport, and Chats worth. 



As previously stated, the sugar beet is decidedly a potash plant. 

 But we venture to assume that the failure to perceive beneficial 

 results from the application of potash to English soils may be 

 attributed to the presence already of a sufficient amount of that 

 substance. Comparative analyses indicate this as a natural char- 

 acteristic of that soil. Its further presence is probably also due 

 to previous, direct application. Enough is enough in any soil. 

 Dr. Goessmann's investigations show that the application of 250 

 to 300 lbs. of sulphate of potash (kainite) per acre was very ben- 

 eficial on the college farm at Amherst. It frequently happens in 

 practice, in many sections, especially in beginning this industry, 

 that the exclusive use of commercial manures may be advisable ; 

 then it will be found that the potash salts come first in importance. 

 Potash (the sulphate always on roots) tends to produce solidity, 

 early maturity, and to increase the amount of sugar in the root. 



The position of the potash in the soil has a marked influeuce on 

 the product. The beet sends its roots deeply into the sub-soil, 

 and exact investigations demonstrate that the potash must de- 

 scend to the lower strata of soil before its beneficial effect will be 

 noticed upon this class of roots ; which explains the fact that 

 potatoes and sugar beets, though both potash plants, have been 

 raised alternately on the same soil with good results. The potato 

 feeds on the surface soil, the sugar beet largely on the sub-soil. 



IV — Results of Experiments. 



In the manufacture of sugar from the beet, much depends upon 

 the composition of the juice, aside from its content of sugar, any 

 considerable quantity of foreign matter serving to render the sep- 

 aration of the sugar difficult and expensive. The juice of good 

 sugar beets should not contain more than 18 to 20 parts of foreign 

 matter to 100 parts of sugar. So the cultivator must not only 

 seek a large percentage of sugar, but also adopt those methods of 

 culture which will lessen the cost of manufacture. And in no 

 way can this be done save by proper selection and application of 



