ENEMIES or THE SUGAB BEET. 287 



e action of water, and also sulphuric acid nearly 

 mcentrated. 



The causes of the above may generally be attributed 

 ther to the too frequent planting of the beet on the 

 me soil, thus causing an exhaustion of alkaline ele- 

 ents,^ or the want of a sufficient volume of oxygen, 

 be disease brought about by the first cause is but 

 tie to be dreaded in America for the present, as our 

 il, in the greater number of cases, unlike the foreign, 

 ntains too much of the above chemicals, and, as we 

 ive before stated, the beet should be planted with 

 ution ; preliminary experiments being necessary, 

 ne second cause of disease we consider the most to 

 : dreaded in the United States, the want of suffi- 

 3nt oxygen, caused bj'^ bad drainage. On the greater 

 imber of farms in Europe at the present day, when 

 e circumstances require it, a most excellent system 

 drainage exists. In America the importance of 

 is does not yet seem to be understood. 

 The soil most to be dreaded is the one containing 

 igments of roots, either of beets planted the year 

 evious or of trees. 



Diflferent degrees of fermentation take place, ab- 

 rbing the oxygen from the surrounding air, and re- 

 acing it by carbonic acid. The nourishing elements 

 3 plant requires no longer exist, and the consequence 

 it is suffocated and dies. 

 The fig. 80 shows a beet growing where the end of 



' See " Choice of a Soil." 



