(13) 



07' not. Of course such soils as do not meet the general re- 

 quirements mentioned above are out of the question; for ex- 

 ample, such as are too sandy, wet or stony. And on the other 

 hand, those soils which, from their origin would be expected 

 to possess those elements of plant food most abundant in the 

 ash of the beet, will more probably show a better adapta- 

 bility for beet culture. We should not, however, draw too 

 hasty conclusions from the result of a single experiment. 

 The work expended upon the soil becomes perceptible only 

 by degrees, hence a field only becomes a good beet-growing; 

 field by degrees." 



MANURING. 



2. " Manuring should always first of all give back to the 

 ground what the harvest has removed from it, and not only 

 the mineral (inorganic) constituents, but also the nitrogen. 

 Nothing is surer than that a soil to which a full return of ijlant 

 food is 7\ot made, loses by degrees its power to -produce the crop 

 requh^ed in normal quantity and composition. The experimental 

 cultivation of the beet with artificially prejiared fertili- 

 zing liquids has been much less pursued than with other 

 plants, and therefore the relation between the composition of 

 these liquids and the development of the beet is not yet de- 

 termined. AVe lack also the basis upon which to predicate 

 the direct action of manures upon the beet. Here lies the 

 difficulty, above indicated, of applying the manurial sub- 

 stances to that layer of the soil whence the beet principally 

 derives its nourishment. Hence in the present state of our 

 knowledge and of our fertilizers, the object of our fertiliza- 

 tion can be nothing more than the retaining in good condition 

 of a soil ivhich is already suitable for beet culture.'" 



" After the above remarks it will not be thought aston- 

 ishing when we say that all the laborious and painstaking 

 experiments with the manuring and culture of beets have a& 



