390 



who is of the opinion that in any case the nitrogen is transformed into 

 proteins, which, in combination with calcium, are decomposed into asparagin, 

 glutamin and corresponding organic salts. These form soluble salts with 

 calcium, which in turn are found again in the sugar extractives, etc. 

 Schultze also characterizes the incompletely utilized, intermediary nitrogen 

 compounds as essential constituents of the syrup which impair the crystal- 

 lization of the sugar. In the plant itself, as in sugar manufacture, the com- 

 pounds here named may retard the precipitation of the sugar, and thus 

 explain the condition of unripeness and of small sugar content in the over- 

 manured beets. Besides the delay in ripening, the beets do not keep well 

 when stored in piles. Phosphoric acid improves the quality; the juice of 

 beets, which had been over- fertilized with phosphoric acid and badly 

 polarized, contained the fewest elements which prevent the crystallization 

 of the sugar. 



Good and i>ad experimental results have been obtained from top 

 dressing chiefly with Chile saltpetre. This condition is observed in almost 

 all experiments. Besides the quantity used, the result depends also on the 

 way in which the plant utilizes the fertilizer. This dilifers greatly according 

 to the variety, the density of the soil, the way it is worked, the locality and 

 the weather. Reference should be made to Kuntze-Delitsch's^ observations 

 on top dressing. He found that the soil easily forms a crust, causing the 

 young beets to die in spots because of a lack of oxygen, while the older 

 ones develop poorly. In any case, fertilization with Chile saltpetre should 

 be followed immediately by harrowing-. 



Opinions differ as to the advisability of using nitrogen fertilizers with 

 seed beets. While it is asserted by some that the quality of the strain de- 

 clines, Wilfarth% on the strength of his experiments, contradicts this 

 statement. 



Over-Fertilized Potatoes. 



The effects of over- fertilizing potatoes with nitrogenous fertilizers are 

 the same as lor beets. Miiller-Thurgau's* results show for both that an 

 abundant nitrogen fertilization causes a stronger leaf development with a 

 greater chlorophyll content. At the same time, the formation of starch is 

 impeded; the starch is more rapidly dissolved in the leaves, and smaller 

 quantities are stored. The organs show a greater glycose content, the re- 

 serve substances are more rapidly dissolved, the nitrogen compounds are 

 more extensively transformed, while respiration is heightened and growth 

 increased. 



A poorer keeping quality of the tubers is correlative with a lesser supply 

 of reserve substances and their more rapid consumption in respiration. 



1 cit. Zeitschr. f. Pflanzenkrankh. 1896, p. 310. 



2 The action of the perchlorate in the use of Chile saltpetre will be discussed 

 under the section on Injurious gases and liquids. 



•i Wilfarth, H., Wirkt eine iStickstoftdungung- der Samenriiben schadlich usw. 

 Zeitschr. d. Ver. Deutsch. Zuckerindustrie. Vol. 50, Fart 528, p. 59. 



* MuUer-Thurgau, Dritter Jahresbericht des pllanzenphysiol. Laboratoriums d. 

 Versuchsstat. Wadensweil. Zurich 1894, p. 52. 



