rity, occupying, it is true, the soil twice, whilst the 

 other plants but once. But the advantage is greatly 

 in favor of the beet, as it permits a principle of selec- 

 tion that could not otherwise possibly exist, the proof 

 of which being that the beet of the past cannot be 

 compared with the beet of to-day. Little, however, 

 has been done to ameliorate the melon from a sugar 

 point of view. The beet seed in beet-growing districts 

 is sold by specialists who do nothing else, and they 

 guarantee a given result as to yield and sugar percent- 

 age. As for the value of the melon seed for the manu- 

 facture of oil, this may, without doubt, be extremely 

 profitable, as sixteen per cent, of the total weight of the 

 melon are said to be extracted ; but we doubt whether 

 the profits from the same would, as many contend, 

 represent one-half the cost of cultivation. It is true 

 that beet seed cannot be used for this purpose ; but the 

 latter seed are grown only in amounts needed, and con- 

 sequently from them a profitable selection may be 

 made, and the remainder sold at a reasonable price. 

 When comparing the cost of harvesting in the two 

 cases, in one it is comparatively easy work, it being 

 sufficient to take the melon from the vine and throw 

 it into carts ; whilst in the other, beets must be pulled 

 or taken from the ground with a special harvesting 

 appliance, the leaves being twisted off and left upon 

 the soil, consequently the cost for this operation is 

 greater for the beet than for the melon ; but the tear- 

 ing up of the soil for some depth in this work is most 

 beneficial. From the time the roots arrive at the 

 factory until they leave they are not subject to manual 

 labor. Is this so with the melon ? To our knowl- 

 edge it is not. For no appliance could possibly be 

 made that would empty the latter of its interior, and 

 consequently it must be done by hand ; which opera- 

 tion, to be effectual, must necessarily be extremely 



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