444 THE MANGOLD-WURZEL CHOP. 



proportion of sugar in the root. l The method made known 

 to us by M. Vilmbrin 3 is so simple, and attended with so 

 little trouble or expense, that it naturally recommends 

 itself to the consideration of all who are desirous of follow- 

 ing up practices, the result of sound principles, applied to 

 the development and increase of our agricultural resources. 

 The mangold in this country has enjoyed almost a 

 perfect immunity from disease. At both an early arid a 

 late period of its growth it has been, in certain seasons 

 and certain localities, affected by frost, and thus has 

 either been killed or rendered unfit for being stored in the 

 usual manner; but at present cases of injury from disease 

 have been very rare. On the Continent, however, great 

 losses have been sustained by a diseased condition of the 

 root, induced probably by the continued use of rich 

 manures, stimulating an abnormal development which the 

 vitality of the plant, diminished by causes, such as being 

 grown too frequently on the same ground, neglect of seed, 

 &c , was not able to perfect. We have, unhappily, analog- 

 ous cases in some of our crops the disease, for instance, 

 that has visited our potatoes, and that of which we hear 

 more and more of every season as affecting our turnip crops. 

 This disease was first noticed in Belgium in 1846, by Klihl- 

 inann, and in France the following year, by Crespel and 

 Payen. 3 The attention of MM. Kiihlmann and Crespel 

 was first attracted by finding that the juice of the roots 

 that had been stored a short time, instead of yielding the 

 usual proportion of sugar, gave only a brown, viscous 

 syrup, possessing an offensive odour, and incapable of 

 crystallization. On. examining the suspected roots, M. 



1 The proportion of sugar in the ordinary varieties of beet-root is about 

 8 per cent. The produce of M. Vilmorin'a improved variety is giving, this 

 season (1859-60), no less than 12*3 per cent, of sugar an enormous benefit in 

 an economic point of view. 



2 Notes sur un projct d' Experience ayant pour but d'augmenter la Richesse 

 Saccharine de la, Better are, par M.. L. Vilmorin. Annales de i 1 Agriculture, 

 tome xxii. 3 Annales de V Agriculture, tome xvi. 1847. 



