4^ 



CHAPTER I. 



CLEANSING OF THE BEET ROOTS. 



The object of this operation is, to separate from the roots 

 the green parts of the neck, which may not have been re- 

 moved, the radicles, the defective parts, and the earth and 

 the gravel, which may adhere to these; when this is prop- 

 erly done, the washing should it be required (which is not 

 the case in many places,) is easily and quickly performed. 

 In all cases the cleansing should be effectually done, other- 

 wise the gravel and earth (should there any remain,) will 

 injure the rasps. Women and children perform this op- 

 eration in France. For this purpose, each hand is provi- 

 ded with a sharp knife from 2 to 3 inches broad and 10 

 long, wHth this tool seated near a pile of beets, the laborer 

 takes the beets one after another, scrapes them lengthwise 

 to detach the earth and stones, takes off the neck all round, 

 and even a thin slice when this has not been already done, 

 by the operation described in the 1st Part, Chap. VIL. 

 Sec. II. 



When a beet is too large to be applied conveniently to 

 the rasp, the workmen should cut it in two, or in quarters 

 according to its dimensions, this must always be done lon- 

 gitudinally. 



The cleaning of the beets should alwa3^s take place in a 

 room near the rasps and presses, in order that these differ- 

 ent operations may follow conveniently and quickly. The 

 place should be, when possible, a building sufficiently 

 large to contain beets enough for the consumption of the 

 works for at least four or five days, and leave room enough 

 besides for the laborers to do their work easily. As fast 



