298 TRANSACTIONS OP THE 



of May, the plants are weeded out. They are still small, but it is impor- 

 tant not to delay the operation, because immediately after weeding they 

 increase rapidly in size and strength, and are prepared to resist the inju- 

 rious effects of heat and drought. If, on the contrary, the weeding 

 should be delayed till the beets have become strong, they would grow up 

 with only two leaves, and their future growth would be retarded. 



Only the strongest plants of each cluster are permitted to grow up. 

 When the weeding has been once thoroughly done, it will be seldom 

 necessary to repeat it ; the growth will be sufficiently active to cause 

 the leaves of the young plants to cover the summit of the hills. Toward 

 the end of May the plants are hoed a second time, the ground on the 

 sides of the hills and between them being loosened by a light plough, 

 from which the share and coulter has been removed. A plough is pre- 

 ferred to a cultivator, for the hill is cut by it on both of its declivities, 

 and the weeds are buried and made to rot in the middle of the small 

 furrow. By this treatment the soil is also aired and fertilized, and the 

 summit of the hill remains to be hoed by hand. A cultivator scratches 

 up the soil without fully tearing up the weeds, and necessitates a liberal 

 use of the hoe to complete the work. 



Hilling Up. 



Toward the middle of June, when the beet roots have acquired a 

 strong growth, earthing up, or hilling, is done. This is an important 

 operation, in which care must be exercised if a large crop is desired. It 

 is of as much importance as deep ploughing, without which a good har- 

 vest is impossible. The plough used to prepare the ground for hoeing is 

 also used for this operation, but the coulter and share are not removed. 

 At the time of sowing, the hills being made very fiat, the roots strike 

 into the earth to the entire depth of the loosened soil. In this second 

 ploughing the earth is thrown up above the collar of the beet root, and 

 thus allows it to develop toward the summit of the hill, while at the 

 same time it penetrates into the soil, and acquires often a length of from 

 forty to fifty centimetres. Care must be taken not to leave the collar 

 of the beet uncovered, in which case it would contain far less saccharine 

 matter than the rest of the root. 



The Bodin heaper may be employed for hilling, but it has the disad- 

 vantage of not throwing; the earth to a sufficient height above the collar 

 of the beet. 



Harvesting. 



Toward the fifteenth of September the beet crop is harvested. The 

 beets are known to be ripe when the leaves become yellow and fall off. 

 In spite of its length, the root can be easily torn out by the hand, by 

 inclining it toward the side of the hill. The plough is also used for this 

 purpose, the share and coulter having been first removed. It is directed 

 into the middle of the hills, under the roots, which fall on either side, 

 partially covered by the earth, which protects them from the early 

 frosts. The roots are now cleaned, the collar removed, and heaped 

 together. Should a frost be apprehended, the heaps are covered with 

 leaves until they are collected in carts and placed in the pits. 



The use of the plough in haiwesting effects a notable saving in time 

 and labor; nor is any of the labor lost, inasmuch as the ploughing is 

 useful for the succeeding crop, whether of wheat or beet root. 



"When two crops of beet roots are to be raised successively, every 



