this nature should be improved as economically as 

 possible. 



Galcarous soils are generally remarkable for the 

 fine crops that they yield. The reason is easily given, 

 the beet requires rapid growth, and once germinated, 

 the sooner it arrives at maturity the better it will be. 

 Every thing therefore that tends to quicken its 

 growth would increase the yield. The lime in the 

 soil makes it more easily warmed, more active and 

 hastens vegetation. Consequently, in crops gathered 

 at the same time, we would have from caicarious 

 soils richer beets and those giving a purer juice, 

 than from lands that have no. lime. One reason also 

 of this greater activity in caicarious lands is that 

 the lime in the soil hastens the decomposition of 

 the organic substances and of the principal alkalis 

 that they contain, and sooner prepares these prin- 

 ciples for absorption by the plant. 



There are caicarious soils, however, that are 

 inert, which become unfit for the culture of the beet 

 and in which all other plants equally fade or die. I 

 speak here only of caicarious soils that have in them 

 in normal proportions, the two other primitive ele- 

 ments of the soil, sand and clay, and whose vegeta- 

 ble coating is of sufficient depth and friable, and this 

 is generally the case as well in this country as in 

 all others. Compact slate lands are met with, which 

 at first sight would seem to be unfit for beet culture. 

 To improve these lands and make them fit for this 

 culture they must be prepared. * 



The greater part of the soil of Canada then, can 



