128 THE SUGAE BEET. 



manure, giving large crops of beets when used in ex- 

 cess, and when in the soil undergoes great changes ; 

 if the weather is too rainy the nitric elements making 

 their escape either in a free state, as ammonia or organic 

 complex alkalies. Here, in all probability, is a great 

 loss, or perhaps a gain, resulting from the transformation 

 of the nitrogen into nitric acid in combining with the 

 oxygen of the carbon elements in the plant. If this 

 organic substance is in a damp oxygenated soil the 

 amount of nitrogen if it remains will, as a general 

 thing, be in excess of what is actually required, and for 

 that reason increase the size of the root, but diminish 

 at the same time its saccharine qualities. If, on the 

 contrary, the weather is dry, the decomposition will 

 not entirely take place, and the beet will not derive the 

 expected advantage from the same. The composition 

 of this varies with the animal and straw from which 

 it was produced. The amount of phosphoric acid^ it 

 contains is extremely small ; this being advantageous 

 to the formation of the sugar, it is advisable to add 

 the same in the shape of a phosphate ; evidently on 

 calcareous soils the general decomposition is greatly 

 facilitated. 



These manures are generally from cows, horses, 

 sheep, and pigs. The combination of the first two 

 yields the best results. If we consider other excre- 

 ments of similar sorts it is advisable to mix the same 



' In beets we have analyzed the quantity of sugar is directly proportional to 

 the above, and this varies with the amount at its disposal in the soil or manure. 



