150 



Manvfacture of Sugar from. Beet-Root. 



with the extraction of sugar from beet-root it may be as well to 

 describe briefly its structure and composition. If we take a root, 

 and cut it down or across, we shall see that it is composed of 

 concentric zones or layers, differing in colour, more or less, 

 according to the variety. The exterior, or skin, is composed of a 

 peculiar compact cellular substance, containing mineral and 

 azotized matter, immediately beneath which lies the herbaceous 

 tissue, containing the colouring matter, an essential oil, and several 

 other peculiar organic compounds ; then succeed the concentric 

 zones of vascular and cellular tissue. In the cellular tissue is depo- 

 sited the saccharine matter, the proportion seeming to be greatest 

 in those cells immediately in contact with the vascular tissue. 



A. The zones or layers composed of vascular and cellular tissue, in whicli the crystals of sugar are contained. 



B. The germ, connected hy a peculiar tissue with the tap and side roots, and -^vhich contains a large pro- 



portion of the saline matters, but no sugar. 



C. Tap and lateral roots : the latter not necessary, and consequently prejudicial to the yield of sugar. 



On dividing the root, and exposing it to the air, zones or layers, shown by dark-coloured marks, may be 

 seen ; the cells on either side of these appear under the microscope to contain the largest amount of crystals. 



