ENEMIES OF THE SUGAR BEET. 289 



mentioned. It has been remarked that if on this same 

 soil a beet be transplanted without the extreme end of 

 its root, and which cannot consequently penetrate the 

 unhealthy soil, it will remain in a perfect condition ; 

 this being suflSeient proof of the exactitude of the 

 theory advanced. 



Remedy. — The second case — ^the want of oxygen — 

 being of the greatest interest, we would say that there 

 are two methods of preventing it, either of which should 

 be adopted, or, better still, both combined : — 



1st. The use of a subsoil plough, penetrating the 

 soil as deeply as possible, and thus bringing the lower 

 portion in contact with the air. 



2d. System of drainage before spoken of. The 

 method advocated by Payen and Richai-d is shown in 

 fig. 81, but we consider that any other plan will answer 



Fig. 81. 



System of drainage. 



as well, when the drain pipes are placed at a sufficient 

 depth. The object of this is to carry off the excess of 

 water, the oxygen^ being absorbed through the stratum 

 from the surface. 



The sugar beet, like other plants, grown on poor 



' When water passes through a porous substance the oxygen of the atmo- 

 sphere penetrates by suction. 



