224 The Sugar-Beet in America 
of the beets that are to be used the next year in raising 
seed. At the Utah Station several methods of siloing 
have been tested; a number of these have given good 
satisfaction. The important precautions to be kept in 
mind are that the beets must not be allowed to dry, to 
freeze, or to heat. Sufficient ventilation must be pro- 
vided to allow the carbon dioxid produced by normal 
respiration to escape and at the same time not enough 
to dry the beets. Sufficient covering must be given to 
prevent freezing, but not enough to cause heating. 
Beets stored in moist sand kept better than by any 
other method used, although this method is not practical 
except for the comparatively few mother beets that have 
been individually analyzed and are more likely to decay 
on account of the wound, caused when the core is removed 
for analysis. 
For the great number of beets used in producing com- 
mercial seed, perhaps the best way is to silo them in the 
field. This is done by piling the beets on top of the ground 
or in a shallow trench in ricks four or five feet wide, and 
then covering them with soil. Only a light covering is 
given at first and more is added as the weather becomes 
cooler. In very cold weather manure on top of the silo 
is helpful. 
Ventilators should be placed in the ricks every few feet 
to allow carbon dioxid to escape and fresh air to enter. 
Less ventilation is necessary if the remainder of the silo 
is left open a few weeks after the beets are placed in it. 
If a long rick is made, the beets should be divided every 
twelve or fifteen feet in order that if decay begins at any 
point it will not destroy all the beets in the silo. Before 
