184 THE SUGAR BEET. 



between each several inches of earth ; the whole well 

 protected from the cold. The preparation of the soil 

 is in every respect similar to the fii-st year. Some 

 authors contend that beets should not attain to their 

 full development the first year. But we have made 

 several experiments to ascertain if there existed any 

 actual advantage in the adoption of this idea, and 

 are forced to say we found none ; notwithstanding the 

 fact that the beet is a bi-annual plant, many go to 

 seed the first year. The exact cause of this is not 

 known, but the fact is that the roots having small and 

 conical necks are generally those that are possessed of 

 this peculiarity. Some contend that this may be 

 attributed to the age of the seed; we consider that this 

 has nothing to do with it, for, if the resulting seed be 

 taken and planted, it will yield roots having the same 

 defect ; therefore it is advisable to gather these, and 

 not permit them to remain, as they will contain but 

 little sugar and a large amount of phosphoric acid. 

 The beets that are planted for seed are the second 

 year placed at a much greater distance from each other 

 than during the first. The ground to receive these is 

 divided off in squares of three to two and a half feet ; 

 at each angle a mother is placed. A hole is dug with 

 a spade in a slanting direction. The beets that are 

 placed in these have their ends broken off, as they 

 would in all probability double under and prevent, to a 

 certain extent, the growth of the root. The earth is 

 then filled in and pressed with the foot. 



