31 



THE SUGAE-BEET. 



Bj E. Abbott, Jun., Superintendent Botanic Gardens. 

 Bead 13th June, 1871. 



It may be remembered that in 1869 a plot of ground in the 

 Society's gardens was planted with the Silesian sugar-beet, for 

 the purpose of testing the suitability of the colony for the 

 culture of this plant. The intention at the time was to have 

 endeavoured to manufacture a small quantity of beet sugar, 

 not only with the view of ascertaining the probable percentage 

 obtainable, but also because it was thought it might have 

 the effect of stimulating the industry, if it could be proved 

 that sugar was obtainable in paying quantities. 



Owing to various causes, among others the want of proper 

 appliances and funds, to carry the experiment to a successful 

 issue, no attempt was made to extract sugar from the roots 

 at the proper time, I therefore thought it advisable to select 

 the best roots for the production of seed, of which there 

 now is about 10 bushels on hand. It would be very desirable 

 that this seed should be distributed to persons willing to 

 give the root a fair trial ; as the season for sowing is now at 

 hand no time should be lost in the distribution. 



It may not, perhaps, be generally known that the Silesian 

 beet is much more nutritious as cattle food than the common 

 mangold. According to recent analysis by Dr. Voelcker, 1 

 ton of sugar-beet is equal to at least 1| tons of common 

 mangold. The weight of roots produced per acre is gener- 

 ally about 20 tons, but 30 and even 40 may be secured by good 

 cultivation, so that apart from the value of this crop for the 

 production of sugar, it is worthy to be more generally grown 

 for feeding purposes. It enjoys as great an immunity from 

 insect pests as the mangold. 



The following remarks bearing on its cultivation may not be 

 without interest to intending planters: — The proper time for 

 sowing the seed in Tasmania is about the middle of August ; 

 in the midland districts a little later, say about the beginning 

 of September. It should be dibbled in, a foot or fifteeen 

 inches apart, or it may be sown in prepared beds, and trans- 

 planted with as little risk as the mangold. From 10 to 151bs. 

 of seed will be found sufficient for an acre of ground. The 

 soil must be in good condition, it should have been well 

 worked, and if not in good heart manured in the autumn. 

 Unless the soil is in a finely pulverised state, the roots cannot 

 properly develope themselves. It is essential that the root be 

 well imbedded in the soil ; if this is not the case the amount 

 of saccharine matter is greatly diminished; as in both man- 



