MANURE FOR SUGAR-BEETS. 



383 



Fresh barnyard-manure, particularly of horses and sheep, or 

 liquid stable-manure, or poudrette, and all manures contain- 

 ing uric acid, are decidedly objectionable in the spring preced- 

 ing the sowing of the sugar-beet ; for they cause an excessive 

 growth of leaves, shortening thereby the time for the ripen- 

 ing of the roots, while favoring an increase of their nitroge- 

 nous constituents. They also cause a large absorption of 

 saline constituents. In case barn-manure has to be applied 

 in the spring for raising the sugar-beet, cow-manure is con- 

 sidered the least objectionable ; but well-rotted compost is 

 preferred. 



The following series of experiments, carried on under my 

 direction, may furnish an illustration regarding the extent of 

 the influence of the system of fertilization, and the variety 

 of soil on the quality of the beet raised from the same kind 

 of seed. 



A. — Tests illustrating the peculiar effects of various fertilizers on the quality 

 of the sugar-beet when raised upon the same piece of land, consisting 

 of a brown sandy loam which had been well manured with stable- 

 manure during the two seasons previous (1873-74)- 



It will be perceived that the result is very striking. The 

 percentage of saccharine matter in the form of cane-sugar, 

 where the fresh horse-manure was applied, is very low com- 

 pared with that where the stable-manure had been applied 

 the previous year, and where the concentrated fertilizers were 

 used. This is sufficient to furnish a good general guide for 

 intelligent practice. The quality of the beet is greatly modi- 

 fied by the condition of the fertilizer used. 



