Composition of Oramjc Globe Mangolds, Bulbs and Tops. 207 



in well-ripened mangolds grown on soils of a character similar 

 to that of the experimental field in good seasons. When grown 

 on deep, light, and warm soils, mangolds are always sweeter 

 than roots from colder and stiffer soils ; but as comparatively iew 

 exact sugar-determinations in mangolds grown in England have 

 been made as yet, we do not possess the data for determining 

 fairly what is the average amount of sugar in English mangolds. 

 Generally speaking, mangolds cultivated in France, Belgium, 

 and Germany, either as the raw material for the manufacture of 

 sugar, or for feeding purposes, are much richer in sugar than 

 those grown in this country, and this is partly due to the more 

 genial climate of the continent, partly to the fact that our fields 

 are more liberally manured than theirs ; for experience has shown 

 that forcing nitrogenous manures, such as guano or sulphate of 

 ammonia, are unfavourable to an abundant production oi sugar ; 

 and generally speaking heavy crops are poorer in sugar and less 

 nutritious than more moderate and equally well-ripened ones. 



5. The proportion of albuminous compounds in the several 

 roots, it will be seen, varies from 7 to 7 iV per cent. ; and 

 the variations are more perceptible in the soluble than in the 

 insoluble nitrogenous substances. 



6. The percentages of vegetable fibre in the preceding analyses 

 differ greatly in some of the roots. Thus No. 9 contained 

 nearly twice as much as No. 2, although both were equally rich 

 in sugar. 



7. In all the roots an appreciable amount of common salt 

 was found. The differences in the relative proportion of salt 

 in the several roots are inconsiderable ; for No. 5, not dressed 

 with salt, contained as much chloride of sodium as any other, 

 except No. 6, which contained a trifle more. It does not appear, 

 therefore, that the heavy dressing of salt which had been applied 

 on some plots, increased the percentage of salt. 



8. In conclusion, it may be mentioned that no direct connec- 

 tion is perceptible between the amount of salt applied to the 

 different plots and the variations in the composition of the roots, 

 to which attention has been directed. 



Mangold-tops occasionally are given to sheep and cattle, and 

 relished by them. Too liberally supplied, they purge, and do 

 more harm than good. Believing analyses of the mangold-tops 

 to be interesting, if not useful, I have incorporated in the last 

 table the results obtained in determining the general composition 

 of the tops from nine different bulbs. 



The percentages of water in different mangold-tops, as might 

 have been expected, vary greatly. 



In several instances not more than 6^ to 7 per cent, of the tops 

 was solid matter, and the rest water. It will also be noticed 



