i/ 



with : for this purpose, the plant that appears to he 

 the most vigorous is held in the left hand, and with 

 the right allthe others are removed, care being taken 

 not to uproot the plant that is to remain. This should 

 be done in damp weather, so that the plants to be 

 uprooted will come up easily. 



Immediately after the separation of the roots, the 

 land is carefully ploughed over so as to destroy all 

 weeds and render it softer. The soil is thus separated 

 and the air more easily penetrates it and gives new 

 nourishment to the roots. This second ploughing, 

 in separating the soil, increases the earths power of 

 absorbing the moisture of the air which penetrates 

 that portion of the soil in which the roots are, gives 

 new principles to the beet and assures a vigorous 

 growth. At the same time the softening of the earth 

 allows a more vigorous growth of leaves and this 

 again causes more speedy and abundant produc- 

 tion of sugar, for sugar is not secreted until the 

 leaves have attained their full growth. 



From this time until the leaves attain their full 

 maturity this operation should be repeated as often 

 as possible, due regard being had to economy. Some 

 times it is twice repeated, at others, three or four 

 times. The oftener this work is done, the quicker will 

 be the growth of the beet. To economise time and 

 labor, machines are used for this work. During the 

 month of August, when the leaves have attained a 

 sufficient growth all work is stopped. The plant 

 then seems to sleep, as it has then no exterior 



