300 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



between the roots is quite necessary, for, being a non-conductor of heat, 

 it prevents the roots from being injured by the heavy frosts, and sup- 

 ports the earth with which the pile is covered, leaving a free space be- 

 tween the beets themselves for the circulation of air. Near the chimney 

 a triangular box about one metre long is placed, made of thin boards 

 and extending into the pile. It opens at the top into the gutter or roof 

 and is intended for the thermometer. 



The preservation of the beet is divided into two operations: 1. Stor- 

 ing away the beet 2. Superintendence of the pits. 



The beets when stored must be well cleaned; that is to say, freed 

 from the dirt attached to them, and the collar cut away, for any portion 

 of the leaves remaining on the roots will become rotten in a few da}^s and 

 produce fermentation in the pits. Care must also be taken not to put 

 into the pits any roots damaged during loading the carts, by the horses' 

 feet or by the wheels. This rule is easy to observe, and such damaged 

 beets may be worked up immediately. 



It is easy to see that the good preservation of beet roots depends upon 

 their being kept cool, yet free from frost, and dry and well ventilated. 

 The root-houses are constructed in the manner described, in order to 

 secure these essential conditions. A continuous current of air entering 

 at each end of the trench passes upward through the floor of branches 

 or brush, penetrates the pile of beets, and finally passes out of the 

 chimney at the top and at the ends of the roof or covering. 



The temperature of the pit should never exceed three, four, or at the 

 most five degrees above the freezing point. 



The following are the methods adopted for maintaining the equable 

 temperature. 



Let us suppose that when the beet pits were made the weather was 

 moderately warm, about eight degrees above the freezing point. The 

 temperature in such a case should be lowered to three or four degrees. 

 This is done by closing the ends of the canal and gutters with straw 

 stoppers during the heat of the da}', when the temperature is above 

 eight degrees, and by opening them in the evening and during the 

 night, when the temperature has fallen below that point. By intro- 

 ducing the cool air in this way during the night and excluding the warm 

 air during the day, in the course of a week the proper temperature will 

 be obtained. 



To maintain the temperature of the pits at this height, it will be only 

 necessary to stop up the openings completely, whenever the outside 

 temperature is higher than four degrees, or lower than the freezing 

 point. 



That the differences of temperature may be obtained a thermometer 

 is introduced, which indicates the temperature of the air passing into 

 the lower canal while another is placed in the triangular box above 

 referred to, which will indicate the temperature of the mass of roots. 



The whole superintendence then consists in stopping and opening the 

 gutters as occasion requires. In this way, with proper care, the beets 

 can be preserved till the end of March, without sensible alteration. 



The pits are usually from twenty to twenty-five metres in length. 

 When placed in a line there is about three metres between them. When 

 placed, however, in parallel lines, the canals are dug five metres from 

 each other, in order that there may be between the pits room enough to 

 take the earth intended to cover them. One thermometer will be suffi- 

 cient for every five or ten pits. A pit twenty-five metres long, and made 

 as above described, will hold from forty to forty-five tons of beets; and 



