222 THE STJGAK BEET. 



gather the beets on the field and take them to the silos 

 as with the ordinary wagon, leaving aside the bad con- 

 dition of the weather. Another problem now presents 

 itself: What is the minimum material and labor re- 

 quired to obtain the maximum results? We ourselves 

 had a general organization in view, which generally 

 agreed with Mr. Decauville's idea, with which we have 

 now become familiar; he having .had some twenty 

 years' experience in the planting of beets. We will give 

 his plan, and make no mention of our own : The material 

 necessary is 300 to 400 metres of rails, a switch, a few 

 curves, some of which turn to the right and others to 

 the left, two ti'ains, composed each of 15 porteurs, to go 

 with these 45 civieres. Besides the above we must in 

 all cases suppose that there exists a permanent track, 

 which is in direct communication with the factory, 

 farm, or distillery. 



The problem will in this case be to establish our 

 silos along the main track, or, again, to heap the beets 

 in piles when they are to be immediately utilized. The 

 general disposition of the movable track in both cases 

 is the same, the sidings alone differing. When the 

 first case presents itself the curves in communication 

 with this movable track and siding should be both 

 turning to the left, and in the second case one to the 

 right and the other to the left. The rails being on the 

 ground, the next problem is, what number of work- 

 men are necessary? Two men to fill the civieres and 

 to place them on the porteui-s, a boy to help to fill these, 



