The Profitable Cultivation of the Sugar-Be' et'arid' 

 Other Crops by the Use of Nitrate of Soda. 



The Functions of Nitrate of Soda 

 in Sugar-Beet Growing. 



Extracts from a Lecture, delivered by Dr. Maercker, Government Privy 



Councillor, German Agricultural Association, on the Profitable 



Cultivation of the Sugar-Beet and Other Crops 



by the use of Nitrate of Soda. 



It is always a great pleasure to me 



when 1 have the opportunity of going into Introduction, 

 a new district and thereby extending my own sphere of 

 knowledge ; for I go outside my own circle, not only 

 with the object of imparting something, but also of, at 

 the same time, bringing something away with me; and 

 frequently, when a lively discussion has taken place upon a 

 question which I have introduced, I have returned home 

 with the consciousness that I have brought away from the 

 meeting more than 1 took to it. Now, in order to be able 

 to offer you perfectly definite advice, it is necessary to know 

 accurately your agricultural position, and to be thoroughly 

 acquainted with your conditions of soil and climate, so as 

 to be able to form an adequate judgment regarding them. 

 That is denied to me, because I am a stranger in your 

 district, and this fact places me in some embarrassment and 

 renders it possible that objections may be taken to what I 

 am about to say to you, although I shall do my utmost to 

 be as guarded as possible. But such objections will not be 

 unfruitful, for I myself will learn something from them, 

 and I shall endeavor to improve, what is capable of improve- 

 ment, in your methods. 



It is very opportune that you should , , , 



, , {_ i- r -j Inseparable 



have chosen as the subject for considera ^ c 



, , . J , . . Connection of 



tion at to-day s meeting the cultivation ^ . 



of the sugar-beet, and the use of Nitrate Su U gar . Beet and 



or boda, which is inseparably connected Mj trate 



with the cultivation of the sugar-beet ; 



because, in fact, circumstances at the present time are such 



