170 SUGAR BEET IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



the above-mentioned samples, sugar beet is not, as a rule, grown 

 in countries where atmospheric moisture is very low for the 

 greater part of the year. It was. however, difficult to see why 

 this condition should have atTected the beet crops, and the en- 

 quiry has not been pushed any further. 



In April, 19 14, another series of mangold samples from the 

 same locality was collected. On analysis these yielded the fol- 

 lowing results : — 



I- ^- 3- 4- 5- 



Water % 94.46 93.00 92.06 91 -54 91.00 



Ash % 1 . 69 1 . 32 1 . 28 1 . 30 i.2f7 



Fat % .053 .051 .068 .067 .056 



Crude Fibre % 71 .98 .78 .88 .96 



Proteins % i.oo 1.39 i.ti 1.30 1.6) 



Carbohydrates, excluding 



Crude P'ibre % 2.69 3.26 4.7" 4-91 49^ 



These samples all contained more moisture than those taken 

 nine months earlier, and consequently lower percentages of solid 

 constituents. Particularly is this noticeable in the case of the 

 carbohydrates (consisting almost wholly of starch and sugar). 

 Of these the fresh April mangolds contain only about half as 

 much as the fresh July mangolds; and if we calculate what the 

 quantities of these constituents in the mangold would be after 

 the latter has been completely dried, some rather interestin;j^ 

 results are obtained. These are given below : 



Samples collected in July. 1913. 



I. -'• 3. 4- 5 



Ash % 10.25 13.29 9.78 8.38 12. u2 



Fat % .57 ."ii 40 .2^ .36 



Crude Fibre % 5.45 6.bi 5.65 5.14 6.59 



Proteins % 12.28 1490 15.36 10.47 14-27 



Carbohydrates, excluding 



Crude Fibre, % 71.37 64.27 68.83 75-8i 66. So 



Samples collected in April, 19T4. 



I. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



Ash % 19.68 18.86 16. T2 15.37 15.38 



Fat % .96 .ji ..86 .79 .63 



Crude Fibre % 12.82 14.00 9.82 10.40 10.77 



Proteins % 18.05 19.86 13.98 15.37 17-96 



Carbohydrates, excluding 



Crude J-'ibre % 48.56 46.57 59-19 58.04 55-22 



It is again strikingly noticeable that the carbohydrates other 

 than crude tibre (i.e., .starch and sugar) are considerabl\- higher 

 in the July than in the April samples, indicating the change that 

 takes place during diree months, on the assumption that the 

 1914 crop had been sown at a time of the year corresponding 

 to that for the 1913 crop. On the other hand, there is a diminu- 

 tion of cellulose (fibre), of proteins, and of mineral or ash con- 

 stituents. From this general increase in carbohydrates in 

 mangolds one may infer a simultaneous increase in cane sugar 

 in sugar beet, but whether this latter increase is accelerated 

 during certain months more than during others, what the period 



