98 



CULTUKE OF THE SUGAR BEET. 



We now come to the study of the means employed to supply the de- 

 ficiencies of plant-food in the soil, due either to the natural condition or 

 the exhaustion by crops, and the influence of the means employed upon 

 the production of rich and valuable roots. 



The general composition of the beet root and leaves is given by Cham- 

 pion and Pellet, as follows : They state that for rich beets the weight of 

 leaves is about 50 per cent, that of the root, and 25 to 30 per cent, that 

 of roots containing 9 to 11 per cent, of sugar. 



The table shows the general composition of leaves and roots of beets 

 containing 15 per cent, of sugar: 



Water . . 

 Nitrogen 

 Ashes... 



In roots. 



Per cent. 



74.00 



0.40 



0.80 



In dry 



matter. 



Per cent. 



1.55 

 3.10 



In leaves 



Per cent. 



83.50 



0.38 



4.35 



In dry 

 matter. 



Per cent. 



2.30 

 26.30 



For a yield of 20 French tons* of beets and 10 French tons of leaves 

 per acre, there would be removed from the soil : 



