442 
T?ie Cultivation of Sugar-Beet. 
With reference to this last-named point, it is of interest to note 
that M. Basset, in his Guide pratique da Fabricant ds Sucre, state3 that 
soils rich in mineral salts are not adapted to the cultivation of beet 
intended for the sugar factory. Beet easily absorbs saline matters, 
and alkaline salts constitute one of the greatest obstacles to sugar 
extraction. In the cultivation of beet in France, M. de Yilmorin 
recommends a first ploughing in November to break up the land to 
a depth of 8 or 10 inches, followed by a subsoil ploughing to a 
similar depth, so that the ground may be thoroughly stirred to a 
depth of at least 15 inches. Left rough through the winter, the land 
"is twice ploughed in spring, in February and April and is finally 
prepared for sowing by harrowing and rolling. Though special drills 
may be used, yet any drill that will deliver the seed regularly and in 
sufficient quantity will suit the purpose. The last week of April or 
early half of May is regarded as the best time for sowing ; the 
temperature is then about 50 3 to 60 3 Fahr., which is the most favour- 
able to rapid and safe germination. As with the closely allied 
mangel, so with beet, the germinating capacity of the seed is facili- 
tated by immersion in water at a temperature of 120° Fahr. The 
first hoeing takes place as soon as the young leaves are distinguish- 
able in the drill-rows, this being performed by either horse or hand 
labour. At this period, too, it is usual to dress with nitrate of soda. 
A fortnight later the plants are thinned out to 8 or 9 inches apart. 
About three more hoeings or cultivations should be effected by the 
beginning of July, after which no further care should be needed 
except the removal of any seed-stalks that may run up. From mid- 
September to mid-October is the period for lifting the roots ; but they 
should not be allowed to remain in the ground long enough to get 
frosted. 
From details communicated by Dr. Schack-Sommer to the 
Society of Chemical Industry it appears that wet or swampy ground 
is quite unsuited to beet-growing, the most suitable soil being a 
well-drained loam containing lime. A good artificial manure is one 
including 1 part of nitrogen to 2 parts of phosphoric acid as super- 
phosphate ; in Germany as much as 2/. to 3?. per acre are spent on 
artificial fertilisers. A suitable proportion is about 160 lb. nitrate 
and 3201b. superphosphate, or 3201b. Peruvian guanoand 160 lb. super- 
phosphate, per acre. Though at Wavertree and at Ballymitty the 
usual precautions in beetroot cultivation were neglected, the crop 
not even being properly thinned, the analyses of the roots proved them 
to be as rich in sugar as those of German growth. Comparison with 
German roots was rendered possible through the circumstance that 
Mr. F. O. Licht, of Magdeburg, publishes during the summer months 
a resume of the results obtained in his analyses of freshly-drawn 
beetroots. On the same days as those selected by Mr. Licht, Dr. 
Schack-Sommer had beetroots drawn from the earth both in Ireland 
and Lancashire, and analysed them in his laboratory. The results 
are shown in the table on the opposite page. 
The most important figures in these tables are those showing the 
quantity of sugar in 100 parts, the English and Irish roots com- 
