80 



CULTURE OF THE SUGAE BEET. 



But this latter relation will not hold good for the juice after extrac- 

 tion, as appears from the following table : 



This question of the mineral constituents of the root, and the influ- 

 ence they exert upon the production of sugar and its extraction from 

 the root, is an exceedingly important one and merits careful study. In 

 this report it will be further discussed in the consideration of the fertil- 

 izers suitable to the crop, and the time and manner of their application. 

 It is, however, proper to state further here, that, of the mineral matters 

 present in the root, phosphoric acid and the alkalies, which are the most 

 important mineral constituents of artificial fertilizers, that have the most 

 beneficial influence upon the value of the crop, seem in the root to vary 

 with the richness in sugar, the phosphoric acid increasing with an in- 

 crease of the sugar content, and the alkalies decreasing under like con- 

 ditions. These facts are fully established in the results of the researches 

 of Professor Joulie, shown below: 



Sugar in root, 

 per cent. 



Percentage of 

 potash and 

 soda in nor- 

 mal matter. 



Plots having received no alkalies 



Plots having received 150 pounds of alkalies per acre. 



13.58 

 14.98 

 15.24 

 11.45 

 11.54 

 13.11 



0.640 

 0.415 

 0.385 

 0.494 

 0.480 

 0.291 



