Harvesting 1 49 



any locality will be affected somewhat b\' the area in 

 beets. If the acreage is large and the mill will have a 

 long run, digging may begin before the beets are en- 

 tirely ripe in order that the farmers may be able to get 

 all the beets dug before they are frozen in the ground. 

 Since it is impossible to predict the kind of autumn, 

 mistakes are often made in the time to commence dig- 

 ging. For example, in 1916 over some sugar-beet areas 

 the land froze solid very early and thousands of acres 

 of beets rotted in the ground. If this condition could 

 have been predicted, digging would have been started 

 earlier and pushed faster. In 1917 the previous year's 

 record was fresh in the minds of all and probably 

 hastened digging somewhat. As it happened, however, 

 the fall remained open till late and all the beets were 

 harvested before it was necessary. 



Beets should usually be harvested when they are 

 mature. This is not an absolutely definite point, but the 

 general condition of maturity can be told rather easily. 

 It is indicated by the browTiing of the lower leaves and 

 a yellowing of all the foliage. Tlie leaves also lose their 

 vigor and have a drooping appearance. Ripeness is also 

 indicated by the sugar-content and purity, but it cannot 

 be told by analysis alone, since the composition of the 

 beets is variable under different conditions. A beet may 

 be said to be ripe when the foliage has the appearance 

 just described and when analysis shows a satisfactory 

 sugar-content and purity. 



The sugar company contracting for beets reserves the 

 right to say when they should be dug. This is necessary 

 in order that the beets may be received regularly during 



