436 THE MANGOLD- WURZEL CROP. 



they are then placed in heaps at suitable distances for cart- 

 ing off the field. In fine weather it is very desirable to let 

 them remain in this state a few days in the field, in order 

 that they may not only get dry on the surface, but also lose 

 a little of the moisture which they naturally contain. The 

 natural tendency of the root, directly it is removed from 

 the soil and trimmed, is to heat and " sweat/' as it is com- 

 monly termed, due probably to the great check the vital 

 forces of the plant have sustained by being separated from 

 the soil, and by the removal of the leaves, through which 

 all the surplus moisture of the tissues had been, while in 

 a growing state, evaporated. In the individual root this 

 action is hardly perceptible, the increment of temperature 

 is but small, and the " sweating" is confined to a continu- 

 ous moisture on the surface. If removed, however, to the 

 store heap in this condition, and piled in quantity, with- 

 out due ventilation, the heat and moisture would rapidly 

 increase, and fermentation and decomposition as rapidly 

 follow. In our hay fields we have good evidence each 

 year of this tendency to heat and to be injured if due 

 attention is not paid to the "making" and the stacking of 

 the hay crop. If stacked too soon it is sure to heat, fer- 

 ment, and be more or less injured by it; if the hay, how- 

 ever, has been properly made, and stacked at the proper 

 time, the temperature in the mass is raised a little, which 

 always improves the quality of the produce. So it is with 

 our mangolds, and, indeed, with all our other root crops. 

 If they are left on the ground in small heaps say of about 

 a cart load each and exposed to the air for a few days 

 of course, paying due regard to the weather this process 

 of "sweating" is carried on in the small heaps with good 

 ventilation, the moisture and heat pass off readily, and no 

 injury is sustained. They can then with safety be carted 

 to the homestead and stored in the usual manner for con- 

 sumption, as may be required. All the protection neces- 



