THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



107 



of moistuTe is the consequence; and when this is excessively low the piotoplasms 

 die, followed by alteration in the beet cells. The most desirable temperature for 

 silos appears to be 35.6 degrees to 41 degrees F. Avoid all bruises of roots to be kept, 

 is a maxim never to be lost sight of in beets that are to be stored. Twist off the 

 leaves, but do not attempt topping." We may add that Nebraska experience is 



BEET HARVESTER WITH TOPPING ARRANGEMENT. 



This Nebraska invention failed in practice so far as topping the beets is concerned. No machine, in Europe or Amer- 

 ica, has yet been devised that will loosen the beets, lift them from the soil, top them properly, and deliver them at 

 side of row ready for factory or silo. The attempt illustrated above should pave the way to some one's success in per- 

 fecting such a machine. 



against the hint in the last sentence, as two handlings of the beets cost more than 

 the loss in sugar due to absence of top or necks on beets in silo. 



The system of drying beets has been tried on a small scale in California. In that 

 extremely dry and warm climate, the fresh beets when sliced shrink to one-fourth 

 their original weight by loss of water in from three to four weeks' exposure to air and 

 sun. These topped beets contain from 50 to 65 per cent of sugar and can of course be 

 shipped by rail any reasonable distance. The process has only been tried on a small 

 scale and great care had to be exercised to keep the beet chips from fermenting and 



