EXAMINATION OF THE BEET. 87 



The cellular tissue separating the opaque zones when 

 of considerable thickness is watery, and corresponds 

 to a root rich in sugar. In what state does this sugar 

 exist in utricular tissue? This question we do not 

 think decided. Decaisne tells us, that if examined 

 with great care no foreign substance can be found to 

 exist, it being perfectly translucid. On the other hand, 

 several of the most prominent chemists have declared 

 that it is impossible to make an exact observation, as 

 the color changes so rapidly when in contact with the 

 air. The tissue of the cells also alters from light red 

 to black. The rapidity of this change seems to be 

 23roportional to the sugar the tissue contains. De- 

 caisne tells us that when these changes are examined 

 with a microscope it can be seen that the color is due 

 to a multitude of crystals or granules, and the combi- 

 nation of their mass has a dark appearance. 



The beet when fresh and in a good condition con- 

 tains very little glucose, but, if mutilated, it will form, 

 thus causing a proportional loss of sugar.^ 



4. External Qualities; Sha'pe of the Beet, — As be- 

 fore stated, the method of cultivation, the fertilizers, 

 etc., exert great infiueuce on the size and consequently 

 on the saccharine elements the beets contain. Evi- 

 dently, the longer the root the gi-eater the depth to 

 which it penetrates and the greater the amount of nour- 

 ishment it extracts. If the various shapes be examined^ 



' See "Conservation of the Beet." "^ See " Variety of Beets." 



