THE BEET-SUGAR INDUSTRY IN 1920. 39 



passes along each side of the beet root at a depth of several inches 

 below the surface and is so constructed that the beets are loosened 

 and slightly lifted. (PI. VII, fig. 2.) The side lifter passes along- 

 one side of the beet row and loosens the beet, usually without lifting 

 it ; in either case the roots, after they have been loosened, can readily 

 be pulled and thrown into piles. Care should be taken in 

 using these lifters to see that the beet roots are not broken, as con- 

 siderable loss frequently results to the grower from the breaking 

 of the roots, causing the lower part of the beet to be left in the 

 ground. 



In topping beets by hand, heavy knives closely resembling large 

 butcher knives are used; in some localities sickles are used for the 

 purpose. This work, now done by hand, as shown in Plate VIII, 

 figure 1, may be done by machinery. (PI. IX.) In loading the 

 beets on the wagons, forks specially constructed with a knob of metal 

 on the end of each tine should be used, so that the beets may not be 

 punctured when they are forked onto the wagon. Special beet racks, 

 as shown in Plate VI, figure 2, and Plate VIII, figure 2, are commonly 

 used in hauling the beets to the factory or clump. These special racks 

 are necessary in facilitating the unloading of the beets at the dumps, 

 where the beets are emptied from the wagons onto the cars. (PL 

 VIII, fig. 2.) If the beets are forked from the wagon the ordinary 

 wagon box rasiy be used, but generally the beets are dumped, in which 

 case racks with hinged sides are necessary. Furthermore, the special 

 rack holds more roots than the ordinary wagon bed, thereby reducing 

 the cost of delivering the crop. 



/Sugar-beet harvester. — Heretofore the most laborious operation 

 connected with beet culture has been the harvesting. This operation 

 consists of three parts, lifting, pulling, and topping, as described 

 above. The pulling and topping have been done entirely by hand at 

 a cost of $7 to $9 per acre. Many attempts have been made in this 

 country and in Europe to construct a mechanical harvester. Recently 

 several types of this implement have been improved, and it is ex- 

 pected that they will be available to harvest at least a part of the 

 1921 acreage. One type of harvester, as shown in Plate IX, figure 

 1, is a motor-driven device which lifts the beets entirely out of the 

 ground and tops and piles the roots. Another type of harvester, as 

 shown in Plate IX, figure 2. is a horse-drawn implement which 

 tops the beet and then lifts the root. Each implement is operated by 

 one man ; hence, the saving in labor and in labor cost are considera- 

 tions that appeal to the beet grower. 



LIVE STOCK. 



The live stock on the sugar-beet farm should consist of work stock 

 and other animals. One of the most important parts of the necessary 



