130 THE SUGAR BEET. 



influence upon the vegetation, as it decomposes with 

 great rapidity, and more especially after a heavy rain. 

 It is generally desirable, when used, to mix this with 

 pulverized bones or any other phosphate; for beets 

 going to seed its use should be rejected. 



We now have various waste products from the sugar 

 factories, such as strings, woollen bags, etc., but the 

 service rendered by them is comparatively small. 



Guano. — This contains a large amount of organic 

 nitric elements but few alkalies, and its use is not de- 

 sirable on soils that are heavily charged with the former. 

 At one period this fertilizer was used in large quanti- 

 ties in France for beet culture, and brought about the 

 so-called "maladie du guano," the cause of which could 

 only with difficulty be explained.^ But at that time 

 the importance of other elements besides the nitric 

 was not understood. When utilized at the present 

 day it is generally combined with another manure act- 

 ing as a complement to the same. Some contend that 

 its action ceases before the root has entirely matured ; 

 this being owing to the solubility of the ammoniacal 

 elements. Such being the case the beets would be 

 easily worked. Mr. Walkhoff and others advise the 

 mixture of the guano, with pulverized bones. 



We cannot exactly decide as to the comparative 

 practical advantages or disadvantages of this fertilizer, 



' Some contend that a sort of microscopic vegetable parasite forms on the 

 root, and comes from an exhaustion of the soil. 



