118 THE SUGAR BEET. 



The soil when heavy is prepared just before the 

 winter, the frost, etc., having the same effect as men- 

 tioned above. Subsoil ridge ploughs are here made 

 use of, these penetrating the ground some twelve 

 inches ; the earth is thrown to the right and left, each 

 forming a portion of the coming hill, which is com- 

 pleted on the return trip. 



These hills are about thirty-one inches apart from 

 summit to summit (see fig. 24) which distance varies 

 with the height of the same. Their inclination is 45°, 

 this being considered the best for facilitating the flow 

 of water resulting from the rains, while at the same time 

 their general shape remains the same. On light soils it 

 is not advisable to form these before the winter, but 

 only some weeks before sowing.^ In the first case the 

 manure is added, and, after the ploughing is complete, 

 a heavy roller is passed over the entire mass. This 

 renders it more compact, and it is then better able to 

 resist the variations of the weather, and when the 

 spring arrives another ploughing takes place, and, to 

 complete the hill, a roller is made use of having the 

 final desired shape. It now becomes important to com- 

 press the hill with a heavy roller in order to have this 

 adhere to the surface below. The special roller is again 

 made use of (see fig. 24), and the soil is now ready for 

 the sowing. If we have a light sandy soil to contend 

 with, all these operations should take place within ten 

 days of the time of sowing. The thinning out is effected 



' See "Sowing of the Seed." 



