CULTIVATION OF THE BEET ROOT. 321 



ing fork. The same operation must be repeated at least 

 twice in a season. 



As weeding opens the earth to the free entrance of air 

 and water, the plants may be seen to be benefited by it ; 

 the green of their leaves deepens, their roots increase in 

 size, and their foliage expands. 



Since I have sown my fields in drills, I have practised 

 passing the plough through them three times in the course 

 of a summer, and at each time I have made thorough use 

 of the weeding-fork around the roots of the plants. 



Half a day's use of the plough is sufficient for half a 

 hectare, and. the rest may be completed in a day by five or 

 six men. I find that I save one half the expense of weed- 

 ing by employing this method. Each weeding with the 

 fork costs at least twenty francs per acre. The produce 

 of a field which is well taken care of, is at least double that 

 of one which is neglected. 



ARTICLE VI. 

 On the Gathering of Beet Roots. 



Beet roots are generally dug during the month of Octo- 

 ber : the digging should be completed before the com- 

 mencement of the frosts. When surprised by untimely 

 frosts, if the roots cannot readily be transported to a place 

 of shelter, they may be collected in heaps upon the fields 

 and covered over with their own leaves : those that remain 

 in the earth are in much less danger from frost than those 

 that have been dug. 



The time mentioned in the preceding paragraph is the 

 one most suitable for the vicinity of Paris, and for the 

 centre of France ; but as vegetation is more forward in the 

 southern departments, it is necessary that beets should 

 there be gathered earlier in the season, otherwise the sac- 

 charine principle may disappear, in consequence of a new 

 elaboration of the juices after maturity The fact appears 

 to me to have been fully ascertained by the experiments of 

 M. Darracq. This able chymist, in concert with the Count 

 Dangos, Prefect of the Department of Landes, made every 

 arrangement for the establishment of a sugar manufactory. 



