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THE GENESEE FARMER. 



the amount of sugar. In the Patent Office Report for 1849 and '50, page 405, there is 

 a most interesting article by Mons. Melsens, detailing a series of experiments on the 

 best means of checking fermentation of the pulp and juice during manufacture, from 

 which it appears that bi-sulphite of lime added in small (juantities prevents fermentation 

 and removes any discoloring matter, which often injures the sale of beet sugar. By the 

 aid of this discovery the pulp and juice can be kept for any length of time without 

 injury, and the necessity for hurry is in a great measure removed. The cost of the bi- 

 sulphite of Hme must be little, as the materials, sul])liur and lime, are everywhere abund- 

 ant and cheap, and the mode of manufacture easy and simple. 



The cultivation of the sugar beet, if it can be rendered profitable, will greatly increase 

 the fertility of the farm, as nothing is exported from it but sugar, and all the nitrogen, 

 alkalies, and phosphates, retained as food and manure. Super-phosphate of Hme is a 

 very valuable manure for this crop. 



UNDER -DRAINING. 



The reason for under-draimng is found in these two facts : First, That water, however 

 small in quantity, remaining stationary or stagnant about the roots of plants, is extremely 

 injurious ; experience demonstrating that no amount of manure will make a plant thrive 

 while the roots are sm-rounded by stagnant water. Second, That water falling upon and 

 jxrcolatinr/ through the soil is not only not injurious, but greatly beneficial to vegeta- 

 tion, furnishing plants with elements which they need, and imparting strength and vigor 

 of growth. On these two propositions the whole theory of draining hangs ; and it is 

 simply the most efficacious methods of removing the stagnant water, and rendering the 

 soil as much like a filter as possible, that is matter of discussion. There is much diver- 

 sity of opinion on this subject which we cannot discuss, but must give the methods 

 generally adopted with the most success. 



Stone drains were first used, then horse-shoe tiles, and now l|-inch to 2-inch pipes 

 pipes are found to be much the cheapest and best for draining purposes. In England 

 this pipe, either round or flat-bottomed, is superceding all others. It was at first sup- 

 posed that the water would not find its way into the pipes, but experience proves this 

 to be incorrect, the joints affording sufficient avenues for this purpose. 



In under-draining, the first thing is to provide an outlet for the water brought by the 

 drains. This it will be always necessary to clean out to prevent obstruction, as a stop- 

 page at the outlet or main drain renders the whole network of pipes useless. A fall of 

 1 in 700, with well laid pipe, passes off the water freely ; but where there is plenty of 

 fall, more should be given. The depth of drains and the distances apart Avill of course 

 depend a great deal on the kind of soil and whether there are any springs as well as 

 surface water to be removed ; from two to five feet deep are the extremes, three feet 

 being in general the best. The distance apart ranges from 16 to 100 feet on soils which 

 need draining at all ; and there are very few but what imperiously demand it. 



The cost ( f draining depends a great deal on the price of pipes and on the skill of the 

 digger. Drains can be cut, the pipes laid and covered up again, all complete, for twenty- 

 five cents per rod. The price of tiles would vary according to facilities for making and 

 obtaining them. Probably l-|-inch to 2-inch pipe would cost from six to eight dollars 

 p r thousand. 



In cutting the drains, it is usual to throw out two furrows in opposite directions as 

 deep as possible. It is then cleaned out about fourteen inches deep with a common 

 spftde ; the next foot ifc thrown out with a narrower spade ; and the remainder wath a 

 spade about six inches wide at the top, and gradually tapering so as to leave the bottom 



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