Slujar-Beot Cultivation in Austria. 
1888 1S8D 1800 
Farmyard dung . . . ],042 1,289 1,308 acres 
Composts, ■with " Saturation- 
Scum ' .... 351 268 308 „ 
Artificials .... 3,748 4,284 4,235 „ 
About 27 per cent, of the total area at Wischau was under 
beet, exclusive of that devoted to beet for seed ; 8 per cent, to 
autumn-sown wheat ; 2 per cent, to spring wheat; 11 per cent, 
to rye ; 25 per cent, to barley ; 3 per cent, to oats ; 13 per cent, 
to clover and mixed seeds ; and the balance to peas, lupins, 
potatoes and unproductive land. 
Very much the same proportions were found at Lunden- 
burg, except that beet occupied quite 30 per cent, of the ground. 
On this estate dung is applied every three years to the heavier 
soils, and every four years to the lighter soils. Artificial 
manures are used for the sugar-beet and sometimes also for rye 
and barley. About 20 tons of dung and 2 to 3 cwt. of chemi- 
cal manures are used per acre. These last, which consist of 
sujierphosphate, nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, and 
sulphate of jiotash, are distributed broadcast, mostly by hand. 
Herr Kuffner prefers applying the artificials by hand, because he 
objects to the ground being trodden by horses after ploughing. 
Others prefer distributing manures by machines on account of 
the greater evenness and regularity of the work, even in windy 
weather. 
RiPEXiNG OF Roots. 
Beet roots generally get ripe in about five months. When 
sown in the middle of April they will thus be ripe in an average 
season about the middle of September. Much depends, however, 
on the season and the character of the land in bringing the 
crop to maturity. The best time for taking it up is when the 
roots are nearly ripe. This stage of development is recog^iised 
by most of the leaves turning yellow and flabby. As the roots 
ripen, the summer leaves, which are very large and have long 
stout stalks, dry up and fall away, and leaves are developed 
which are smaller and have short stalks. When these leaves 
are laid flat and turn yellow, the root is ripe. 
Should the weather be cold and no rain fall in autumn, the 
crop may be left in the ground without injury a week or fort- 
' In German, " Saturations-Scldamm " This is the precipitate of the three 
clarifications of the beet root juice, t wice with carbonic acid and Hme, and 
once with sulpliuric acid and lime. These precipitates contain a great many 
oisaiiic impuiilics (nitrogenous matter), as well as the potasli ;uul other in- 
orjfanic salts 
