486 Proceedings. 



ribs and white flesh. There is a variety of it which has a rose-coloured skin, 

 leaves marked by pnrple-colonred ribs, but the flesh is white like that of 

 the former. There is no difference in their sugar-yielding qualities. 



The average temperature of the continental beet-growing countries, and of 

 the localities in England where beets are grown to advantage, ranges from 

 62° to 65° Fahr. 



The average composition of the root of the sugar-beet of France, Belgium, 

 and the Rhenish provinces, is theoretically nearly as follows : — 



Sugar ... ... ... ... ... lOJ per cent. 



Gluten ... ... ... ... ... 3 „ 



Fibre ... ... ... ... ... 5 „ 



Water ... ... ... ... ... 81J „ 



100 



Practically the per centage of sugar extracted "reaches about 8 per cent. But 

 the proportion varies very much. Thus it is greater : — 



1. In small beets than in large. Chemical inquiry has proved that the 

 proportion of sugar was larger, and of salt less, in beets not weighing more 

 than three pounds. One per cent, of salt in the sap will render three per 

 cent, of the sugar uncrystallizable. The best roots weigh on an average from 

 one and a half to two and a half pounds each. 



2. In dry climates, and especially when the climate is dry after the roots 

 have begun to swell. 



3. When grown in light potato or barley soils than in heavy soils. The 

 land should be well drained and capable of being cultivated to a depth of 

 eighteen inches. 



4. In the part under than above ground. The tap root is the richest in 

 sugar. 



5. When manure has not been directly applied to the crop, as its contact 

 with the plants occasions unequal growth, as well as infests them with various 

 kinds of insects. Strictly speaking the manure should be worked into the 

 ground some months previously to the seed being sown. Superphosphate of 

 lime and bone-dust are the best manures for this root. 



It has been proved that a crop raised by means of the direct application of 

 manure contains more salt, and gives more uncrystallizable syrup, than when 

 raised without direct manuring. At the factory where this was tested a 

 larger price, therefore, was offered for roots grown upon land which had been 

 manured during the previous winter j a higher still for such as were raised 

 after a manured crop of corn j and a still higher when after the manuring 

 two crops of corn were taken before the beet was sown. 



In France and Belgium the crops gathered are from fourteen to fifteen 



