152 The Sugar-Beet in America 
sists of two points parallel to each other, one on each side 
of the row. Fig. 23, Plate XIV. As it moves along 
the row, the beets pass between the two points, being 
slightly raised but remaining standing in the soil. Some 
of these are operated by a man walking; others are ar- 
ranged on a sort of cart and are controlled by a man 
who rides. Several companies manufacture implements 
of this type that give satisfaction. Probably no one 
type is best for all conditions. 
After the beets are lifted in this way, they are pulled 
by hand and thrown into piles for convenience in top- 
ping. Sometimes the piles are made without regard to 
any order of piling; at other times the beets are placed 
in such a way that all the tops lie in one direction. With- 
out doubt this arrangement makes topping easier. If 
the beets are not taken from the ground immediately after 
lifting, there is a tendency for the soil to become compact 
again arourid the roots and increase the work of pulling. 
Two beets are knocked together when they are pulled 
to remove as much of the dirt as possible. The dirt when 
handled several times with the beets adds considerably 
to the work involved, and it does no good since it is taken 
off as tare when the beets are finally delivered to the 
sugar company. Unclean beets are a source of annoy- 
ance to all concerned in handling them. Sometimes the 
beets are pulled and topped in one operation, but this 
practice is not common. 
TOPPING (PLATES XIII, XIV, Xv) 
Topping is one of the important operations, and unless 
properly done results in considerable loss. It is an ad- 
