126 CULTUEE OF THE SUGAR BEET. 



2 per cent, of sugar for each tenth between 5.0 and 5.5, above and below 

 these limits this coefficient is incorrect. Below the lower limit the beets 

 are less rich than is indicated by the densimeter, and above the higher 

 limit they are richer than the indications. By the same commission it 

 was questioned whether there should be established a relation between 

 the price of sugar in the markets and the standard price to be paid for 

 roots having a richness corresponding to 5.5 degrees of the densimeter, 

 bat they concluded, after a consideration of the matter, that this would 

 be impracticable.* But M. Blondel proposes a scale of prices to vary 

 with the ranging prices of sugar in the market, and, accepting 4.5 de 

 grees as the standard, believes it just to make a standard price for this 

 degree, and an addition of 3 per cent, for each tenth of a degree above, 

 and a similar deduction for each tenth of a degree below. When sugars 

 are worth 14 francs ($2.80) per 100 kilograms (220 pounds) in the mar- 

 ket, he would pay 14 francs per ton for roots the juice of which has a 

 density of 4.5 degrees, and for each increase of one franc in the market 

 prices of sugar he would add 25 centimes (5 cents) to the standard price 

 per ton of roots. The system of purchase by density, while it amelio- 

 rates the relation between the manufacturer and producer, places a 

 check on the grower of roots of bad quality, and furnishes a premium 

 to the producer of those of good quality, and becomes an incentive to 

 effort in the further improvement of the saccharine value of the crop. 



The actual relations between the manufacturers and farmers in France, 

 under the old and new systems, are well illustrated in the following 

 copies of the old form of contracts and of the record of proceedings 

 of the Reunion of Agriculturists, held at St. Quentin, March 25, 1876, 

 for the determination of a new form of contract, which they finally 

 adopted, and which I have been able to obtain through the courteous 

 intervention of Mons. H. Vilmorin, of Paris. 



Copy of table of conditions in use at Saint Quentin. 

 THE AISNE SUGAR MANUFACTURERS' CLUB. 



Sugar-Beets. 



The designation sugar-beet excludes the varieties known as Disette, cornede bocuf, long, 

 yellow globe, and bettraves bouteuses,i or those grown upon cleared forests or marshes. 



Beets when delivered shall he cut off immediately below the last or lower leaflets. 

 They shall be healthy and free from all alteration. 



Tare. — Tare comprises, besides earth, the rudiments of leaves and woody portions of 

 the top. 



Reception of beets shall take place at the factory, or, if possible, at the boat-landing. 



* Journal des Fabricanis de Sucre, 1878, March 6. 



t According to a decision by arbitration of January 5, 1872, and confirmed by decree 

 of the court of Donai of July 3 following, beets of the variety bouteuse or Boutoire axe 

 not merchandise of good grade, and may be refused by the manufacturer. 



