224 The Sugar-Beet in America 



of the beets that are to be used the next year in raising 

 seed. At the Utah Station several methods of siloing 

 have been tested; a number of these have given good 

 satisfaction. The important precautions to be kept in 

 mind are that the beets must not be allowed to dry, to 

 freeze, or to heat. Sufficient ventilation must be pro- 

 vided to allow the carbon dioxid produced by normal 

 respiration to escape and at the same time not enough 

 to dry the beets. Sufficient covering must be given to 

 prevent freezing, but not enough to cause heating. 



Beets stored in moist sand kept better than by any 

 other method used, although this method is not practical 

 except for the comparatively few mother beets that have 

 been individually analyzed and are more likely to decay 

 on account of the wound caused when the core is removed 

 for analysis. 



For the great number of beets used in producing com- 

 mercial seed, perhaps the best way is to silo them in the 

 field. This is done by piling the beets on top of the ground 

 or in a shallow trench in ricks four or five feet wide, and 

 then covering them with soil. Only a light covering is 

 given at first and more is added as the weather becomes 

 cooler. In very cold weather manure on top of the silo 

 is helpful. 



Ventilators should be placed in the ricks every few feet 

 to allow carbon dioxid to escape and fresh air to enter. 

 Less ventilation is necessary if the remainder of the silo 

 is left open a few weeks after the beets are placed in it. 

 If a long rick is made, the beets should be divided every 

 twelve or fifteen feet in order that if decay begins at any 

 point it will not destroy all the beets in the silo. Before 



