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be advantageously employed in the culture of the 

 sugar beet, and the facts that I have given are proved 

 by experience, as in several places many experiments 

 have been made in cultivating this plant and very 

 successfully. I would not however advise the sow- 

 ing this plant in light and shallow soils which scar- 

 cely retain the necessary humidity for the growth 

 of the beet ; low, marshy, cold lands must not be 

 used in this culture, as in them the beet cannot suc- 

 ceed in its growth. 



2o CLIMATIC INFLUENCES. 



The beet is a plant which belongs to the temperate 

 regions ; it is the sugar cane of northern countries. 

 It is cultivated in Europe between latitude 60 and 

 40 north, and specially between Kiew in Russia 

 and Rome in Italy. It likes warmth and attains a 

 maximum degree of richness and purity under its 

 influence. Thus a temperate spring, with moderate 

 rain at intervals causes its rapid growth ; under this 

 influence, the leaves are developed, and soon cover 

 the ground, from which the roots are obtaining 

 nourishment, and, preventing it from drying by 

 intercepting the rays of the sun, they enable the 

 plant to endure without damage the heats of summer. 

 When the leaves cover all the ground the roots 

 then commence to be fully developed ; exterior work 

 seems to be arrested, and the work inside acquires- 

 the greatest activity, if the temperature is warm and 

 if from time to time the earth is refreshed with moder 

 a*te but not continuous rain. Whilst expanding, 



