CARROTS, MANGOLDS AND SUGAR BEETS. 



43 



equal force to the exclusive and too abundant use of Peru 

 vian guano, sulphate of ammonia and nitrogenous manures 

 in general. The special effect of all ammonial and nitroge- 

 nous manures in general, as already stated, is to produce lux- 

 uriant leaf development, to induce prolonged and vigorous 

 growth, resulting in an immature and watery condition* of the 

 bulbs. 



Large roots, generally speaking, are far less nutritious 

 than better matured roots of a moderate size. For illustra- 

 tion of this fact I quote the following comparative analyses : 



Small Mangolds approach Sugar Beets in composition, 

 whilst large Sugar Beets are hardly better than common 

 Mangolds, and monster beets are even less nutritious than 

 well-matured Mangolds of fair average size. Monster roots, 

 as is well known, are always very watery, poor in sugar, and 

 almost useless for feeding purposes. 



Big Berkshire beets, — one weighing 16 pounds and the 

 other 12 1-4 pounds, — contained only 3.89 or 4 per cent, of 

 sugar respectively, and in round numbers as much as 91 1-2 

 per cent, of water. This high percentage of water is ac- 

 companied by a larger amount of albuminous compounds 

 and of mineral matter, than the proportions in roots, contain- 

 ing very much more solid feeding matter- A large amount 

 of albuminous matter and of ash, indeed indicates immatur- 

 ity and poverty in sugar, a characteristic of big. excessively 

 manured roots. 



