32 



golds and sugar-beet the portion above ground contains little 

 else than scouring salts, and would be rejected as worthless 

 by the manufacturer. Analysis proves that the portion farthest 

 removed from the liojht contains most sugar. Heavy dressings 

 of manure near seed sowing or transplanting time should be 

 avoided. Freslily manured and new land are not favourable 

 for the production of sugar, and, although under such circum- 

 stances the roots grow to a large size, the amount of saccharine 

 matter is but small ; roots from IJ to 2^ lbs. weight are 

 found to be richer than those of a larger size. 



The after culture is very similiar to that for the common 

 mangold, and consists of thinning the crop and hoeing from 

 time to time, taking the precaution while hoeing to work the 

 soil round the tops of the roots, in order to bury any portion 

 that may chance to be exposed to the light. These are the 

 only operations necessary until the plant is sufficiently ripe 

 for harvesting, which may be known by the leaves having a 

 flabby, yellow appearance, when care should be taken that the 

 plants do not make a second growth, which they will be apt 

 to do should rain fall at this period. Should the autumn be 

 drv the roots may remain longer on the ground than if warm 

 and moist, but they should be harvested before frost sets in ; 

 both second growth and frost would greatly diminish the 

 amount of sugar. The leaves should not be stripped from 

 the plants during their growth, because if this be done the light 

 will have free access to the tops of the roots, causing them to 

 turn green, and diminishing the saccharine matter. 



Should the weather be fine and dry when the crop is taken, 

 it is a good practice to allow the roots to remain on the ground 

 for a day or two, covering them with leaves to shelter them 

 from the direct rays of the sun ; by thus exposing them, they 

 part with a portion of their moisture, and are in better 

 condition for stacking. When carted from the field the roots 

 should be stacked in ridges, covering them but slightly at 

 first, in order that more moisture may pass off and heating be 

 prevented. So soon as all danger of heating has passed, the 

 heaps may be sufficiently covered with soil to exclude frost ; 

 beating it well down that rain may also be thrown off. 



There can be little doubt but that the climate of Tasmania 

 is admirably suited to the requirements of this plant. With 

 an autumn sufficiently long and dry to thoroughly mature the 

 roots, the quantity of saccharine matter should be great. In 

 England and on the Continent this varies greatly, in some 

 cases being only 3 and in others as much as 15 per cent.; 

 the average appears to be from 10 to 12 per cent. ; 8 per cent, 

 can be profitably manufactured into sugar, but all over this 

 materially increases the profits of the manufacturer. 



