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leaves first rise from the earth and seek the light. 

 In favorable circumstances this should accur in 15 

 days. At this time the sprout and roots are about 3 

 inches long, in all. The position of the plants is thus 

 easily noticed in the ground, and it is at this time 

 that the hoe should be first used to destroy the weeds 

 on their first appearance, and assist the growth of 

 the beet. This work should be very superficial and 

 should not descend further than the thin hard rust 

 which covers the ground, that is to say, at most 

 one inch in depth. In countries densely peopled and 

 where labor is plentiful, it is easy to have this work 

 performed, which is done with great rapidity, by 

 children. But in countries where labor is scarce, it 

 must be omitted. This operation destroys useless 

 plants, which would deprive the beet of a portion 

 of its nourishment and might later on retard its deve- 

 lopment. However economy here is to be regarded. 

 This work should be attended to as much as possible, 

 but must be omitted if too expensive on account f 

 the scarcity and cost of labor. 



When the beet has four or five leaves and has 

 attained a certain strength, it is next submitted to 

 an operation which is called : mettre en place. This 

 operation is specially for beets in drills ; it consists 

 in rooting out with the hoe, in the drills, useless 

 beets, and in leaving in proper places only two, three 

 or four plants. The spaces between, should be from 

 8 to 10 inches, and are made with two strokes of the 

 hoe, of an ordinary size. As soon as the mise tn 

 place is completed the final clearing up is proceeded 



