268 FOREST CULTURE AND 
ing the extensive conversion of the erystallisable su- 
gar into treacle. The production of beet-sugar needs 
far less labor than that of cane-sugar, and the harvest 
is obtained in so short a time as eight months. Beet 
has shown itself subject neither to alarming diseases 
nor to extensive attacks of insects. Beet is grown in 
extra-tropical zones like ours, while the sugar-cane is: 
a plant confined to tropical and sub-tropical latitudes. 
Beet culture, by directly or indirectly restoring the 
refuge, ameliorates the soil to such an extent that, in 
some parts of Germany, land so utilized has risen to 
fourfold its former value. Beet, furthermore, affords 
one of the most fattening stable fodders, and thus 
again an ample supply of manure. In middle Europe 
now about one sixth of all the arable land is devoted 
to beet, yet the produce of cereals has not become re- 
duced, while the rearing of fattened cattle has in- 
creased. Notwithstanding a heavy tax on the beet- 
sugar factories in Europe, the industry has proved 
prosperous, and assumes greater and greater dimen- 
sions. In 1865, the sugar consumption of Europe 
amounted to 31,676,497 cwt., one third of which had 
been locally supplied by the beet, from over one thou- 
sand beet-sugar factories. Treacle obtained from 
beet is distilled for alcohol. For establishing remu- 
nerative factories on a large and paying scale, it has 
been suggested that farmers’ companies might be 
formed. For ascertaining the percentage of sugar in 
beet, saccharometers are used. In Germany, some 
scientific periodicals are exclusively devoted to the 
fostering of this industry. 
Boehmeria nivea, Gaudichaud. — The Ramie or 
Rheea. Southern Asia, as far east as Japan. This 
