BEET. 23 



dry before cutting, a great deal of seed may be lost. 

 The stalks may be laid in rows, the heads one way, or 

 they may be tied into bundles and stacked vertically on 

 the field and left to dry. Harvesting should be done 

 in dry weather, and the cutting should not be permitted 

 to get wet. 



Threshing, Cleaning. Threshing may be done 

 with a flail, on a cloth spread on the floor. In Europe 

 the method is to draw the stalks through two jaw r s with 

 saw-like teeth, prior to which the stalks are usually 

 given a preliminary threshing on the floor. Another 

 method in Europe is to separate seed from the stems by 

 the use of an endless oscillating apron from a hopper. 

 The seeds roll off, while the other matter adheres to the 

 apron, and is thrown out at the other end of the 

 machine. 



After seed has been threshed, it should be spread 

 thinly and allowed to remain until it has become 

 thoroughly dry, which may take several weeks; then it 

 may be run through the fan-mill or seed-cleaner one or 

 more times. Pieces of sticks that remain may be hand- 

 picked. After cleaning, seed may be stored in barrels. 

 Before shipping, run through the seed-cleaner again to 

 remove the dust. 



To Save the Finest Seed for Private Use. 

 Select the finest and handsomest roots, true to variety, 

 and save only the larger and earliest matured seeds 

 which form on their plants at the base of the branches 

 on the main stalk, clipping off the remainder. Take 

 up the stalks with the roots attached and hang in a loft 

 or garret to dry, spreading a cloth beneath for seeds to 

 drop to. Vegetation keeps up for quite a while, and 

 will ripen the immature seed. Seed in such small 

 quantity may be shaken out, or stripped between the 

 hands, and cleaned in a hand sieve. 



