words for the immature condition of the roots, and in many cases the cause of this undesirable condition has to be sought in the excessive amount of ammonial or nitrogenous constituents which are applied to the Mangolds in the shape of heavy dressings of dung. The same remarks apply with equal force to the exclusive and to abundant use of sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of soda, and nitrogenous manures in general. The special effect of all ammonial and nitrogenous manures in general, as already stated, is to produce luxuriant leaf development, to induce prolonged and vigorous growth, resulting in an immature and watery condition of the bulbs. “Large roots, generally speaking, are far less nutritious than better matured roots of a moderate size. For illustration of this fact I quote the following comparative analyses: +-----------------------------------------------------------+ | |Water. | | | |Nitrogenous Constituents. | | | | |Sugar, Pectine, &c. | | | | | |Crude Fibre. | | | | | | | Ash. | +----------------------+-------+------+-------+------+------+ | Mangolds 9 lbs. | 91.85 | 1.34 | 2.86 | 2.54 | 1.41 | | “ 7½ lbs. | 89.48 | 1.24 | 3.95 | 4.51 | .82 | | “ 4 lbs. | 89.77 | 0.73 | 7.68 | .89 | .93 | | “ 1 to 2 lbs. | 86.90 | 0.61 | 10.51 | 1.07 | .91 | +----------------------+-------+------+-------+------+------+ “Small Mangolds approach Sugar Beets in composition, whilst large Sugar Beets are hardly better than common Mangolds, and monster beets are even less nutritious than well-matured Mangolds of fair average size. Monster roots, as is well known, are always very watery, poor in sugar, and almost useless for feeding purposes. “Big Berkshire beets,--one weighing 16 pounds and the other 12¼ pounds,--contained only 3.89 or 4 per cent. of sugar respectively, and in round numbers as much as 91½ per cent. of water. This high percentage of water is accompanied by a larger amount of albuminous compounds and of mineral matter, than the proportions in roots, containing very much more solid feeding matter. A large amount of albuminous matter and of ash, indeed indicates immaturity and poverty in sugar, a characteristic of big, excessively manured roots. “Generally speaking, all nitrogenous manure, either should not be used at all, or only sparingly, for roots, on stiffish land, and all soils which contain a good deal of clay, are naturally cold and unfavorable to a vigorous and rapid growth. Light land, like most productive sandy soils and friable turnip loams, favors the quick and vigorous growth of roots, and is conducive to early maturity.