6 CULTURE OF THE SUGAR BEET. 



5. Culture: Soil required; physical qualities and chemical composi- 

 tion. Fertilizers : What, when, and how to apply ; influence upon the 

 composition and value of the crop. Preparation of the soil. Planting : 

 Time, methods, and apparatus employed; distance between plants, and 

 its influence upon the quantity and quality of the crop. Care to be 

 given crop during growth. Harvesting and storing. 



6. Social conditions affecting the culture : Eelations between growers 

 and laborers, and between growers and manufacturers. 



7. Extraction of sugar : Later improvements in the methods employed. 



8. Duties imposed and taxes collected. 



9. Importance of the crop in France, and its influence upon other 

 cultures and economies. Conclusion. 



It is to be regretted that the time and means at my disposal, and the 

 press of other duties imposed upon me in my relations with the late 

 Universal Exposition, did not admit of a more extended and careful 

 study of this important industry while in France; and any defects that 

 may be noted herein must be referred to these causes. Most of the in- 

 formation I was able to obtain was secured at odd times when my duties 

 at the Exposition would admit of it, and from such publications as I 

 could collect. 



There are some points in connection with this subject which are 

 worthy of more thorough examination than has been possible in this 

 work, and among these may be mentioned the meteorological or climatic 

 conditions which may govern the extension of the culture into new 

 sections— conditions, the important influence of which will be clearly 

 manifest in the abstracts of records herein presented — and concerning 

 the deficiency of our recorded knowledge of which, for this country we 

 may not refrain from expressing regret. Study in this direction could 

 not, I firmly believe, fail to be rewarded by results of a character most 

 valuable to our j>eople who may contemplate an attempt at the culture 

 of the crop in the United States. 



Eespectfully submitted. 



WM. McMUETBIE. 



Hon. Wm. G. Le Due, 



Commissioner of Agriculture. 



