80 THE SUGAK BEET. 



leaves. For good beets they are about 0.23- of an inch 

 in width, and the quality of the root will decrease as 

 these become larger. 



Fig. 14. 



Section in the Neck. 



2. Chemical Examination. — The composition of the 

 tissue of which the beet is composed, as well as the 

 contents of the cells, is most varied. If merely a sugar 

 solution existed, the difficulty of working the root 

 would be much reduced, as it would then be sufficient 

 to reduce the total to a pulp, press and concentrate the 

 same by boiling; operations that could take place in 

 every house. The manufacture of sugar would then 

 be within the hands of all. 



The epidermic tissue is composed mainly of cellu- 

 lose. This is with or without color or taste, and is not 

 soluble in water, alcohol, or ether. When this color- 

 ing matter exists it is chlorophyl, a substance of 

 which very little is known. According to Sacks the 

 color does not at first exist, but forms in consequence 

 of the action of oxygen and light. It is a compound 

 mainly of four elements, of various colors. The por- 

 tion of the root growing beneath the surface having 



