APPENDIX I. 



K. J. EBERT ON BEET-SUGAR. 



The Beet and its Culture. — Estimating the Saccharine Matter. — Manufacture of 

 Beet-sugar. — Cleaning the Beets. — Extracting the Juice. — Pressing. — Macera- 

 tion. — Boiling. — Preservation of the Juice. — Defecation of the Juice. — The Con- 

 centration, Filtration, and Preparation of the "Spodium." — Evaporating Appa- 

 ratus. — Tlie First Evaporation. — The First Filtration. — The Second Evaporation. 

 — Second Filtration. — Animal Coal. — Boiling in. — Crystallization. — Operations 

 of the Filling-room. 



THE BEET AND ITS CULTURE. 



Of all the manifold varieties of the ^'■Beia ci'ela,^^ L., none has 

 been more extensively used on the Continent of Europe for the 

 purpose of supplying the yearly-increasing consumption of sugar 

 than the "White Silesian Sugar-beet — Beta alba. 



Like the rest of the family, and even more than they, this spe- 

 cies requires, above all, a soil that is composed of a sandy loam or 

 a marl ; the lighter it is, the better, in general, adapted for its cul- 

 tivation. Wet or swampy and moory land ought by all means 

 to be avoided. A good loosening of the ground by means of 

 deep plowing will insure the prospect of a good crop, as the root 

 thereby gets a chance to send its main shaft straight down, with- 

 out branching off too much. As to manuring the field (if this 

 be necessary), great care ought to be taken not to introduce too 

 many saline parts (as these will only act detrimentally) into the 

 soil by the wrong kind of manure chosen. That of animals, in 

 general, should not be used ; broken or pulverized oil-cake and 

 bones will, however, produce good results. 



In regard to the size of the beets, this has, in so far, an influ- 

 ence upon the quantity of the saccharine matter, that the larger 

 they are the more water and other substances they will hold, and 

 the less sugar. Those up to 1 and 1^ pounds' weight, generally, 

 are found to be the richest in sugar. It is mainly developed dur- 

 ing the period of its actual growing until the beet has obtained 

 its perfection and stalks are forming. 



In answer to the question " how they shall be kept after being 

 dug up from the ground," let it suffice to say that the more care- 

 fully they are shut out from the injurious influences of the sun- 

 shine, heat, and air, the better they will keep. To cover them 

 up about three feet high with ashes will be found highly useful, 

 as this will protect them also against the moisture. 



In judging and examining a beet, it must show a small head, 

 and be of a long and well-shaped form. It must not be grown 



