SOILS FOB SEED PRODUCTION. 



127 



It is by the analysis of seed and stalk that one can learn 

 exactly what the conditions are: 



Weiglit of stalk and seed 



"Weight of stalk and seed when analyzed. . 

 Composition of 100 lbs. dry matter. 



Nitrogen 



Phosphoric [acid 



Potassa 



liime 



Magnesia 



Total asli 



Full 

 Flower. 



2.16 IBS. 

 1.87 " 



1.551 

 0.5S0 

 1.868 

 0.820 

 0.806 

 10.050 



Complete 

 Maturity. 



2.48 ibs. 

 2.05 " 



1.675 

 0.435 

 1.636 

 0.860 

 0.806 

 9.750 



From this analysis it may be noticed that consid- 

 erable transformation occurs between flowering and 

 complete maturity of the seed; nitrogen and lime 

 increase while all other elements decrease. The excess 

 of nitrogen is evidently found in the germs of the seed. 

 The most marked change may be noticed in the 

 potassa. As these elements are extracted from the soil, 

 they must be returned. No account need be taken of 

 the mothers, which, after the stalks and seed have been 

 cut off, may be considered as the corpses of their pre- 

 vious state, they having completed their functions in 

 acting as an intermediary between the soil and the 

 growing stalk, and retain nearly all their original salts, 

 etc., nitrogen alone having diminished. If these are 

 plowed under, they take away nothing; if not, other 

 facts must be considered. [An ordinary crop of i6 tons 

 of beets averaging ii per cent, sugar will extract (no 

 allowance being made for leaves) per acre about: 

 Potassa 105 lbs., phosphoric acid 21 lbs., soda 30 lbs., 

 lime 16 lbs., magnesia 6 lbs., chlorine 27 lbs., sulphuric 

 acid 9 lbs., silica 44 lbs., nitrogen 97 lbs., organic sub- 

 stances 1590 lbs., water 29,000 lbs.] 



By the Legras method of cultivation each mother 

 can draw its plant food from about nine square feet. 

 Along the edge of the field must not be counted; con- 

 sequently, it is not desirable to allow for more than 

 4000 plants per acre. Such being the case, the seeds 

 and stalks will extract from the soil: Nitrogen, 123 lbs.; 



