(16) 



day are converted into alcohol, equivalent to the yearly 

 harvest of 79,000 acres of beets. The residue from this 

 molasses is worked up into potash and soda salts. These 

 salts were originally extracted from the soil in minute quan- 

 tities, little by little, by the long and tedious processes of 

 vegetation ; processes artificially inimitable. They are ex- 

 clusively used in chemical industries, and not returned to 

 the soil. 



If we calculate the amount of potash which is removed 

 from 79,000 acres in the molasses and add to it besides that 

 removed with the raw sugar, we find it reaches at least 28,000 

 cwt per year, for which compensation must be made. * * 

 * * As in this case only the potash is considered which 

 was obtained in the Jinal product, these figures are much 

 below the reality; really deceptive in fact, when we think 

 of what is lost by imperfect extraction, and left in the press 

 cake, &c., &c. 



In this way should evert/ farmer calculate, in order to find 

 out whether there is danger, either in the near or distant 

 future, that his land should become 'poor in potash. That such a 

 result will happen is certain, even though a particularly bountiful 

 supply of potash in the soil inay put it off for some time J' 



"The fonn in which the above mentioned plant constitu- 

 ents should be returned to the soil, is fixed as far as the phos- 

 phoric acid and magnesia are concerned ; partly also for 

 the nitrogen. Super phosphates, with more or less accom- 

 panying nitrogen (naturally present or added) may always 

 be used. The magnesia may come from the w^aste material 

 of sugar manufacture, with which direct investigation has 

 shown it is nearly all returned to the soil, although the state 

 of sub-division does not insure entirely even distribution. 

 This latter defect may be partly remedied by cutting up or 

 composting. It is to be recommended from time to time to 

 ' make calculations based on analysis of the manurial sub- 

 stances employed, so as to ascertain the amount of phosphoric 



