80 THE SUGAR BEET. 



leaves. For good beets they are about 0.23 of an inch 

 in width, and the quality of the root will decrease as 

 these become larger. 



Fia. 14. 



Section in the Neck. 



2. Chemical Examinatio7i. — The composition of the 

 tissue of which the beet is composed, as well as the 

 contents of the cells, is most varied. If merely a sugar 

 solution existed, the difficulty of working the root 

 would be much reduced, as it would then be sufficient 

 to reduce the total to a pulp, press and concentrate the 

 same by boiling; operations that could take place in 

 every house. The manufacture of sugar would then 

 be within the hands of all. 



The epidermic tissue is composed mainly of cellu- 

 lose. This is with or without color or taste, and is not 

 soluble in water, alcohol, or ether. When this color- 

 ing matter exists it is chlorophyll a substance of 

 which very little is known. According to Sacks the 

 color does not at first exist, but forms in consequence 

 of the action of oxygen and light. It is a compound 

 mainly of four elements, of various colors. The por- 

 tion of the root growing beneath the surface having 



