CULTIVATION OF THE BEET. 105 



As soon as the plants take such full possession of 

 the soil, that hoeing or cultivating cannot be done 

 without damage to the leaves, then those operations 

 must cease, for it is of great importance to preserve 

 the foliage from injury. This will generally be the 

 case early in July. The luxuriant growth of the plant 

 then stifles the weeds, and, shading the ground, pre 

 vents its incrustation. The only care required after 

 that time until harvest is to pull up such weeds as 

 may have accidentally escaped the watchful eye of 

 the farmer, and to cut off the flower-stalks of the few 

 beets that give indications of producing seed.* 



Both these operations must be strictly attended to, 

 for the weed not only withdraws nourishment from 

 the beet, but if permitted to mature, scatters seed that 

 increase the farmer's subsequent labor ; while the 

 root of the beet that is permitted to " go to seed" con 

 tains not a particle of sugar. 



It is a common but not universal practice in Europe 

 to " hill," or to " earth up," the beet, and the method 

 finds many advocates. The operation is performed 

 principally with a species of small double mould-board 

 plough, and is finished w r 'ith the hoe. It is generally 

 done between the second and third weedings. The 

 practice seems to be a reasonable one, as it tends not 

 only to make the soil light, and thus promotes the 

 growth of the beet, but also causes its development 

 beneath the soil, thus lessening the amount to be cut 

 off of the neck at the time of harvest. Beets that have 



* If the beet shows a tendency to go to seed while it is yet small, 

 it should be pulled up ; but if it is large, the flower-stalk should be 

 cut off. 



5* 



