OTHER FARM CROPS 639 



and clods of dirt, are also thrown in; moreover, certain soils cling 

 to the beets more than others, especially after wet weather. Some 

 deduction must be made from the weight of the load deliverd to 

 account for this. Again, the topping may be very poor, not enough 

 being removed, so that there is a loss to the factory; which should 

 be considered. A sample is taken when the load is dumped into the 

 bins at the factory, the actual percentage of tare is determined, and 

 this figure is applied to the whole load. From the nature of the 

 case, different loads may have a varying percentage of tare, and this 

 point is a constant source of friction between the growers of beets 

 and the factory. But usually it is stipulated in the contract made 

 by the factory with the farmers that the latter may appoint a man 

 to oversee this step in the process. 



Siloing Sugar Beets. When beets are to be preserved for manu- 

 facture during the winter months or for the production of seed, they 

 must be carefully protected from the deteriorating effect of freezing 

 and thawing. The simplest and the easiest method is to place them in 

 piles and cover them with earth, not too deeply, for if they become 

 too warm in the silo they rapidly lose in sugar content. When first 

 siloed, they should be covered with only a slight layer of earth ; as 

 the cold of winter becomes more intense this covering can be in- 

 creased. In some localities only a slight covering of straw is neces- 

 sary to protect the beets, as, for instance, in California. In other 

 localities, such as in Michigan and Wisconsin, it is probable that 

 the beets have to be covered to the depth of 6 inches, and even more, 

 to protect them from frost. 



It is most important not to put too many beets in one pile, cer- 

 tainly not over 5 tons. If, however, the silo is made in the form of 

 a rick, no such limitation is necessary. There must be an opening 

 in the top to allow ventilation. In case of a rick there may be sev- 

 eral. The silo should be placed on the highest point of land avail- 

 able to provide for proper drainage in case of heavy rains or melting 

 snow. The beets should be siloed on the same day that they are 

 removed from the ground. 



The object of siloing, in case of beets for seed, is to prevent them 

 from freezing, and greater care should be used in making the silos. 

 In the case of factory beets, the purpose of siloing is not entirely to 

 prevent freezing, for in the frozen state the beets do not deteriorate 

 to any extent ; but it is to keep them fresh and prevent their wither- 

 ing or drying out. Freezing and thawing, however, must be avoided, 

 as beets that freeze and thaw a number of times lose a greater part 

 of their sugar by inversion and decomposition. 



It is becoming customary in this country for the sugar com- 

 panies to ask the farmers to silo part of their beets when the total 

 crop can not be worked up before winter sets in. To repay the farmer 

 for this extra handling they are given a sum varying from 20 cents 

 to 50 cents a ton extra. A few factories situated in the cooler regions 

 where siloing must be practiced agree to take all of the beets of the 

 farmer before frost comes and silo them, but this is not the general 

 practice. (F. B. 52 Revision 1910.) 



