20 



seed. The assertion that the roots which have produced 

 grain have lost all their saccharine properties is erroneous, 

 these roots contain generally as much sugar as in the 

 first year of their vegetation. 



CHAPTER II. 



CHOICE OF SOILS. 



Distinction in the choice of soils for the culture of this 

 root is exceedingly important : Its nature is to penetrate 

 low into the ground, and therefore prefers a deep loose 

 mould, it then vegetates without obstacle ; its radicles 

 easily collect the nourishment necessary for its support, 

 and it thrives luxuriantly. 



The position of the ground employed for this culture is 

 not a matter of indifference: in high land the beet suc- 

 ceeds but imperfectly in dry seasons ; but it is then easily 

 worked, and produces i7i regard to its weight a more con- 

 siderable portion of sugar, but as the crop in this case is 

 light, the result is that the product in sugar is light. Also 

 on these same high grounds the crops, on the other hand are 

 abundant in rainy years and the proportionate product of 

 sugar is very much less than in dry years. In low mar- 

 shy grounds the case is reversed, in wet seasons the crop 

 is drowned, and the beet so saturated Avith water, that but 

 a small quantity of sugar is obtained from it at a great 

 increase of expense, whilst in tcarm dry years, the crops 

 are excellent, because the heat and drought are counterac- 

 ted by the fresh and moist sub-soil. To obtain average 

 crops it is therefore prudent when it can be done to choose 

 a situation exposed to neither of these extremes. Never- 

 theless there are few deep soils, marshes excepted vvhere 

 the beet under proper culture may not be grown with sue- 



