CULTURE OF THE SUGAR BEET. 103 



nitrogenous manures of organic origin. In fact the first are at once absorbed by the 

 young plant favoring the development of leaves. On the contrary, the others act slowly 

 and in decomposing may undergo nitric fermentation, which, favored by meteorological 

 conditions, such as probably existed in 1875 to l-"?<3, creates in the soil an abundance 

 of nitrates, the retarding action of which impoverishes the root in the last days of 

 growth. 



Concerning stable-manure, it is a fact that there is no necessity for prohibiting its 

 use, because growers are generally wanting in it, and they will not be tempted to use, 

 it in excessive quantity to the same extent as they may be induced to use the mineral 

 manures. But it is useful to show that this excessive use, if it were possible, would 

 be even more fatal than the use of nitrates, as regards the quality of the root. 



3. For the same reason the use of nitrates after sowing, and especially in the months 

 of August and September, is absolutely bad, and may be characterized as fraudulent. 



4. The abuse of nitrogenous manures, nitrates, and others is much less fatal when 

 used upon rich varieties, and roots closely planted than upon poor varieties and roots 

 cultivated at greater distances. 



5. The causes to which the bad quality of the beets in our region (department of 

 Pas-de-Calais) should be attributed are * * * the too great richness of our soils 

 in nitrogenous matters, the abuse of manures, and the application of nitrates after 

 sowing. 



Concerning stable-manures and the other nitrogenous manures used. M. 

 Georges,* in a lecture on beet-root culture, advises that the quantity of 

 stable-manure should not exceed 10 to 15 tons per acre, since this quan- 

 tity will supply sufficient of salts for the needs of the plant. Nitrogen, 

 being the deficient constituent, should be supplied by some very soluble 

 and easily-assimilable compound, such as from 250 to 350 pounds per 

 acre of nitrate of soda, with an addition of a like quantity of superphos- 

 phate of lime, the latter element especially intervening to increase the 

 richness in sugar. The prejudice against nitrate of soda is unjust. Ju- 

 diciously applied it is useful. Only its abuse is disastrous, but neither 

 more nor less than the excessive use of all others, and even stable-ma- 

 nure worked into the soil previous to sowing ; it hastens the vegetation 

 of the plant at the start and helps it through the first stages of growth. 

 "When it is exhausted, the stable-manures, by their slow decomposition, 

 supply the subsequent demands of the plant. But nitrate of soda should 

 not be applied during the growth of the plant, because it may then re- 

 main in nature in the adult beet, which will not have time to elaborate 

 it and secure all the useful effect. Sulphate of ammonia, with an equal 

 quantity of nitrogen, seems to be less favorable than nitrate of soda, be- 

 cause it is a salt which tends to rise to the surface in the soil, while the 

 other descends to an equal extent. Other matters, such as seed-cakes, 

 woolen wastes, &c, may be substituted for the nitrates, but they should 

 in all cases be worked into the soil before sowing, that they may have 

 time to decompose in advance and may be thoroughly mixed through 

 the entire arable stratum. 



These ideas expressed by M. Georges were reiterated by M. Drouyn 

 de FHuys,t and express the views of all scientists and cultivators in 



* La Sucrerie Indigene, 1878. 



t Compte-rendu dcs Seances du Congrcs Agrkolc et Sucriere tenu a Compiegne, Mai, 1.^77. 



