SUGAR BEETS. 175 



large quantities of saline constituents are absorbed from the soil. 

 Potash and phosphoric acid are the special manures most needed 

 by the sugar beet, and, when judiciously applied, well repay the 

 extra expense attendant upon their use. Peruvian guano, Chili 

 saltpetre, Stassfurt salts mixed with phosphate of lime in acme 

 form, give satisfactory results. Green manuring is highly recom- 

 mended. 



M. E. C, in the Journal des Fabricants de Sucre. No. 20, 1875, 

 gives the following results of analyses of comparative trials in the 

 culture of French and German sugar beets. 



The method of culture adopted in these experiments was the 

 following : 



1 . Space between the rows, 48 centimetres. 



2. Space between the roots in the rows, 23 centimetres. 



3. The seed was mixed with three times its weight of the fol- 

 lowing pulverulent fertilizer : 



Superphosphate of lime 600 kilogrammes. 



Nitrate of potash 100 do. 



Nitrate of soda 100 do. 



Plaster (to facilitate mixture) 200 do. 



4. From fourteen to seventeen kilogrammes of seed were used 

 to the hectare — sowed by machine. 



5. The quantity of artificial fertilizer varied from 500 to 800 

 kilogrammes per hectare, according to the nature of the soil. The 

 fertilizer was thrown broadcast two weeks before seeding, and 

 mixed with the soil. 



