KOOTS FOll STOCK FEEDING. 157 



When the roots are fully developed, and ripe, which 

 will be about tlie first of October (and may be known by 

 the stoppage of circulation), they should be taken up; 

 if they make a second growth, under certain atmospheric 

 influences, a large portion of the saccharine matter goes 

 to form new leaves. On the other hand, they should 

 not be disturbed before maturity, as the formation of 

 saccharine matter is most rapid at that period. Tlie 

 roots can be taken out by passing a subsoil plow under 

 them, which, if run deep enough, will escape all but the 

 extreme points, and the saving in time more than com- 

 pensates for the loss of product. 



Care must be taken in harvesting the roots, that 

 they be not bruised ; those thus injured are apt to decay. 

 The tops should be cut so closely as to remove all leaf- 

 buds, as the dampness of the pits may cause the embryo 

 buds to burst forth, and thus exhaust nutritious quali- 

 ties. The roots, when pulled, should be pitted without 

 delay, as described for ruta bagas or '' Swedes." The 

 European growers of beets have a proverb, ''Out of the 

 earth into the earth," and with care they may be kept 

 till the first of July. 



And here, to avoid the necessity of repetition, we 

 will say that the foregoing remarks apply equally as 

 well to the culture of the carrot and parsnip. Every 

 stock breeder should grow the beet, in some of its varie- 

 ties, as he may lay up for winter a valuable supply of 

 this food at times Avhen Swedes or turnips have failed, 

 by reason of the fly or dry weather. The beet, though 

 requiring earlier planting, is for that reason more relia- 

 ble in vegetating, and is well established before the blaz- 

 ing days of July, when the turnips are just breaking 

 ground, perhaps to be devoured by the fly. The beet 

 leaves may flag at midday, but next morning the cells 

 are distended, the leaves crisp and full of vigor. Exten- 

 sive breadths of sugar beets are grown in Southern 



