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Sugar-beets.—M. Corenwinder, in the name of the Agricultural Station 
of the North, in France, has determined, from experiments, that those © 
beets are richest in sugar which produce less weight. Cultivators 
should, however, consider the fact that it is possible to obtain beets 
which are at the same time rich in sugar and of high specitie gravity. 
For this, it is necessary to increase the number of experiments, sow 
seeds producing rich beets, improve by judicious selection, and renew 
the varieties which may degenerate. M. Corenwinder also relates the 
following fact which he has recently observed: “It is disadvantageous 
to cut the leaves from the beets after they have been gathered, for when 
they are left for some time in this decapitated condition, the sugar dis- 
appears in considerable quantity,on account of an elaboration which 
takes place in the cells with a view to the production of new buds.” 
Professor Jellet, president of the Royal Irish Academy of Dublin, has 
made the following experiments upon the growth of sugar-beets in Ire- 
land: Four specimens were taken, and in the growth of one the manure 
used was common Salt: in the second case sulphate of potash was used 3 
in the third case no manure was used, and in the fourth case sulphate 
of ammonia. By optical experiment it was determined that the yield 
in the first case was 79.99 per cent. of water and 12.72 per cent. of sugar; 
in the second case, $0.27 per cent. of water and 13.18 per cent. of sugar ; 
in the third case, 80.60 per cent. of water and 12.42 per cent. of sugar; 
and in the fourth, 80.52 per cent. of water and 12.54 per cent. of sugar. 
Tunar light upon vegetation—Mons. P. Charbonnier, in a com- 
munication to the Journal d Agriculture Pratique, states that lunar 
light exerts a material influence upon aquatic vegetation. This fact was 
first noticed from the increased growth of cryptogamic vegetation upon 
the sides of an aquarium. It was observed that during the time of full 
moon it was much more luxuriant than during the time of the new 
moon. This led to other observations with regard to it, and it was 
found that aquatic vegetation generally is affected in a similar. manner. 
New coloring matter.—M. Harston has extracted from Agaricus fascicu- 
latus a coloring matter soluble in ether and crystallizable in plates, to 
which he gives the name Mycoraphine, and another matter, which he 
named Mycostearine, insoluble in ether and water, and present under the 
form of granules which have a reniform structure. 
The red berries of Solanum duleimara, those of Tamus communis, and 
Asparagus officinalis have also furnished ared granular substance, crys- 
tallizable in plates. It is insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol and 
ether, and especially in benzine. Sulphuric acid colors it blue. It is 
easily fixed upon silk. 
Rhizoctone-—Les Mondes of February 6, contains a statement to the 
effect that beets grown in the vicinity of Eghezer are affected by a pecu- 
liar malady heretofore unknown to agriculturists. The roots are covered 
with numerous and tangled filaments, which upon examination prove to 
be a fungus of the genus Rhizoctone. This fungus is developed upon 
the roots of certain vegetables, constituting a terrible malady. It has 
heretoforebeen noticed upon saffron, lucerne, &c. Whole fields of these 
have been destroyed by it. 1t has also been found upon potatoes, and 
now it has appeared upon beets in Belgiuin. 
Lacquer.—C. Puscher preparesa lacquer of oleate of alumina, which will 
stand quite high temperatures, in the following manner: to a solution of 
alum is added arather dilute, boiling solution of soap. The precipitate 
which is formed is allowed to settle, the fluid decanted, the former col- 
lected upon a filter, washed with boiling water and dried. It is quite trans- 
