CULTURE OF THE SUGAR BEET. 19 



Article 1. Plantations of beet root proper for the manufacture of sugar shall be 

 formed in our empire to the extent of 32,000 hectares (79,040 acres). 



Art. 2. Our minister of the interior shall distribute 32,000 hectares among the de- 

 partments of our empire, taking into consideration those departments where the cul- 

 ture of tobacco may be established, and those which from the nature of the soil may 

 be more favorable to the culture of the beet root. 



Art. 3. Our prefects shall take measures that the number of hectares allotted to 

 their respective departments shall be in full cultivation this year, or next year at the 

 latest. 



Art. 4. A certain number of hectares shall be laid out in our empire in plantations 

 of woad proper to the manufacture of indigo in the proportion necessary for our man- 

 ufacture. 



Art. 5. Our minister of the interior shall distribute the said number among the de- 

 partments of our empire, taking into particular consideration the departments be- 

 yond the Alps and those of the south, where this branch of industry formerly made 

 great progress. 



Art. G. Our prefects shall take measures that the number of hectares allotted to 

 their departments shall be in full cultivation next year at the latest. 



Art. 7. The commission shall, before the 4th of May, fix upon the most convenient 

 places for the establishment of six experimental schools for giving instruction in the 

 manufacture of beet-root sugar conformably to the processes of chemists. 



Art. 8. The commission shall also, before the same date, fix upon the places most 

 convenient for the establishment of four experimental schools for giving instruction 

 upon the extraction of indigo from the lees of woad, according to the processes ap- 

 proved by the commission. 



Art. 9. Our minister of the interior shall make known to the prefects in what places 

 these schools shall be formed, and to which pupils destined to this manufacture should 

 be sent. Proprietors and farmers who may wish to attend a course of lectures in the 

 said experimental schools shall be admitted thereto. 



Art. 10. Messrs. Barruel and Isnard, who have brought to perfection the processes 

 for extracting sugar from the beet root, shall be specially charged with the direction of 

 two of the six experimental schools. 



Art. 11. Our minister of the interior shall, in consequence, cause to be paid the sum 

 necessary for the formation of the said establishments, which sum shall be charged to 

 the fund of 1,000,000 francs ($200,000) in the budget of 1811 at the disposal of the 

 said minister for the encouragement of beet root-sugar and woad indigo. 



Art. 12. From the 1st of January, 1813, and upon a report to be made to our minis- 

 ter of the interior, the sugar and indigo of the two Indies shall be prohibited, and con- 

 sidered as merchandise of English manufacture or proceeding from English commerce. 



Art. 13. Our minister of the interior is charged with the execution of the present 

 decree. 



Early in the following April, 1811, Decostils, reporter of the com- 

 mittee on chemical arts of the Societe d? Encouragement pour V Industrie 

 NaMonale, reported upon a memoir and results presented by M. De- 

 rosne. He was the first to suggest the use of quicklime in the puri- 

 fication of the juice. His method was based upon three principal 

 points: (1) the use of caustic lime; (2) the use of alum; and (3) the 

 use of alcohol. The lime he adds to the fresh juice, of which he 

 succeeded in expressing 63 per cent, the weight of the root. The 

 proportion added was 0.21 gram per liter of juice. After the addi- 

 tion of lime in a thick milk the juice was rapidly brought to boiling 

 and the scums removed as they formed. The juice was then separated 



