238 THE SUGAR BEET. 



We know of no silos that completely fulfil the con- 

 ditions demanded, and these are to keep beets for many 

 months without loss of sugar or weight. 



There is no country in Europe where less attention 

 is given to this important subject than in Germany. 

 The reason of this is that their beets are rich in sugar, 

 and from observations made fi'om time to time these 

 will keep with greater ease than others, such as those 

 grown in Belgium. A few experiments which we 

 made some years ago may be of interest. 



In September the beets were placed in a silo of or- 

 dinary dimensions; these beets had .an average of 14 

 per cent, of sugar : — 



In October there was 

 "• November " 

 '• December " 

 " January " 



" February " '. 



14.03 per cent. 

 14.20 " 

 14.10 '• 

 13.90 " 

 13.02 " 



The above shows that 1 per cent, has been lost. 

 The results obtained from beets having 8 per cent, 

 were a loss of over 2 per cent, in the same time, which 

 goes to prove the foregoing theory. 



The loss of weight is also an important item — more 

 to the farmer than to the manufacturer. We consider 

 that if a mass of beets measuring one cubic metre and 

 weighing 550 kilog. (1210 lbs.) be placed in the silos 

 for six months their weight would then be 485 kilog. 

 (1067 lbs.), thus representing a loss of 65 kilog. (143 

 lbs.). If a considerable crop be on hand the difference 

 is worthy of notice. 



