38 



very large masses, by giving them air, and keeping them 

 dry, and in a temperature as near as possible to 54° Fah- 

 renheit. When the manufactory of sugar was first begun 

 in France, but little precaution was taken to preserve the 

 roots, they were piled in large heaps in yards or under 

 sheds ; the only precaution taken, was to throw straw over 

 those that were not under cover; and it w^as not long be- 

 fore the evils of this carelessness became apparent; the 

 beets were frozen; so long as they remained in this state, 

 the manufacturing of them into sugar experienced no un- 

 favorable result, except in an increased difficulty in rasp- 

 ing, but the moment a thaw supervened, decomposition of 

 course followed, and sugar making was at an end. It was 

 remarked that the roots richest in sugar were the last to 

 freeze; they would resist any temperature above 9°, whilst 

 the most aqueous roots would freeze at 25° of Fahren- 

 heit. If suitable store-houses are not at hand to secure the 

 beet, trenches may be dug near the sugar works, on ground 

 high and dry, four feet deep, if quite safe from water, oth- 

 erwise more shallow; the width should be from three to 

 four feet at most, the length must be determined by the lo- 

 cality, and other circumstances. The trenches thus pre- 

 pared, the roots are brought and thrown in without order, 

 and when full, the middle is raised with earth so as to form 

 a roof, and covered with not less than from a foot and a 

 half to two feet of soil. In this manner the roots are kept 

 perfectly safe, particularly if they have been gathered in 

 dry weather. There is nothing to fear from this method, 

 but a wet soil ; in France, a covering of 18 inches is al- 

 ways sufficient for the protection of the root, with us per- 

 haps, two feet might be better. It was at first supposed that 

 a coating of straw was beneficial to the preservation of the 

 beet in the trench, but experience has shown that it was 

 injurious. 



