Suyar-Beei Cultivation in Amtrid. 
the fjround is in the driest condition. If the ground be wet at 
the time of pulling, the earth will adhere to the root, and this 
will also produce a tendency to decay. Moreover, trouble will 
arise in the determination of the ton in the delivery of the crop 
to the manufacturer. In most cases the leaves are removed 
from the roots in the field, either at the time of lifting or at the 
time of loading the carts or waggons in which they are to be 
transported, either directly or to storage. The top of the beet, 
called the neck, is cut off with the leaves from the root so as to 
remove, with the top, that portion of the beet to which the 
stalks of the leaves have been attached. Very often the necks 
are cut off with the spade, as the roots lie in rows on the 
ground. The work is not done so neatly as with a knife or 
sickle, but a great deal faster. The object of removing this 
portion of the beet is to prevent the mineral salts, which have 
accumulated in large quantities therein, from entering the 
factory, as these mineral salts exercise a very deleterious in- 
fluence on the crystallisation of the sugar. 
If there be danger from frost the roots are piled in pyramidal 
heaps, either before or after the removal of the leaves, in such a 
manner that they may be covered by their leaves or by straw. 
The leaves are removed by a knife, sickle, or other instrument, 
sufficiently strong and heavy that the operation may be efiected 
at a single stroke. It is estimated that in all twenty labourers 
are necessary to pull and prepare for transportation from the field 
the crop of one acre in a day. 
Great care is needed in harvesting the crop, for the slightest 
injury to the roots is followed by a proportionate loss of sugar. 
When injured by careless manipulation in trimming or other- 
wise, fermentation is rapidly set u]) in the injured roots, the 
crystallisable sugar is converted into fruit-sugar or glucose, which 
does not crystallise, and is consequently lost. 
The leaves and tops, which cannot be used as food for 
animals in their fresh state, are sometimes siloed (einyemuert) for 
that purpose. They are thrown into holes made in the field and 
trodden in, being heaped up high enough to form a roof about 
a foot above the surface. In sandy soil they can be made sour 
at once, but in stiffor soils they are best laid aside and allowed 
to fade a little, and lose some of their water by evaporation. 
Tiie covering of earth must be sufficiently thick to prevent 
the penetration of rain and air. Beet leaves, soured in this way, 
last for two years ; and mixed with chafi'and hay they are given 
to cattle and sheep. They are not, however, regarded as good 
fojd ; and are often left on the field and ploughed in. 
