242 THE SUGAR BEET. 



The method of preventing cold air penetrating in 

 excess is similar to the above ; if the ambient air be 

 29° F. the circulation should be at once stopped. 



It is important not to make use of straw, as vrhen 

 this becomes wet, which it is sure to do, and, when in 

 close contact with beets, it will rot, and, after a short 

 time, the entire silos will be in the same wet condition. 



Causes of the Loss of Weight. — This may, as a 

 general thing, be attributed to the evaporation which 

 takes place while the beets are in the interior of the 

 silos or before being placed therein.^ If this evapora- 

 tion has not been of a too long duration, the normal 

 weight may be restored by sprinkling the mass with 

 water. This method is frequently adopted in France. 

 If the above continues the tissues will be composed of 

 small holes, which will soon become filled with air, and 

 thus cause a fermentation, spreading itself through the 

 entire mass. This malady^ is called by Baron Liebig 

 " deremacausie." In regard to this evaporation, if it 

 can be obtained in a rapid manner by ventilation, the 

 result will be a general fall in the temperature. In a 

 new country like the United States, where beets rich 

 in sugar cannot at first be expected, and where a loss, 

 however small, will be of more importance than in 

 Europe, we consider it of great importance to dwell 

 in a very extended manner upon this subject. 



' See " Harvesting." 



* See "Diseases of the Beet." 



