44 SUPPLEMENT. 



fitness for the absorption of atmospheric fjo 3. The roots of the 

 same plants abstract their food year after year from the same 

 layer of soil ; while a change of crop frequently alters the 

 depth from which the food is absorbed. To cultivate the same 

 plant u[)on the same spot for any length of time is also objec- 

 tionable on account of the particular chances offered for the 

 growth of those parasites and insects which make that plant 

 their home. These and other reasons demand imperatively a 

 rotation of crops. 



The sugar-beet sends its rootlets to a depth of several feet, and 

 draws consequently largely from the subsoil ; the latter is on that 

 account, as stated before, of great importance. As the sugar- 

 beet also depends in a high degree on atmospheric food, its leaf 

 growth must be stimulated by a most careful pulverization of 

 the soil, and as the fleshy root needs for its growth a loose, deep 

 soil, deep plowing has been generally introduced. Thorough 

 cultivation and a perfected system of under-drainage being 

 absolutely indispensable to the highest success must necessarily 

 improve the condition of lands devoted to beet culture. Green 

 manuring and a liberal use of stable manure have also been 

 employed to render the soil mellow and rich, and thus the farm 

 lands have reached by degrees a high state of fertility. The 

 use of special commercial fertilizers is resorted to not to the 

 exclusion, but in aid of stable manure, and thus the chemical 

 and physical requirements of the soil are met in the most 

 efficient way. Rotation of crops in connection with a rotation 

 of special manures has demonstrated the practicability of pre- 

 serving unimpaired the fertility of soil engaged in sugar-beet 

 cultivation. 



Without entering here in detail upon this much studied 

 question, I propose to state merely a few observations of a more 

 general interest, in addition to what is said in previous pages. 

 Well manured annual leaf crops for green feeding, are con- 

 sidered the best crop to precede the beet ; next in order, follow 

 well manured summer or winter grain crops ; less recommended 

 are perennial grasses and other fodder crops ; directly objec- 

 tionable are, if not specially manured, potatoes and root crops 

 in general, of which the mangel is the worst. The sugar-beet, 

 on the other hand, is a good crop to precede almost any other 

 farm plant. The succession of crops adopted in the interest of 



