United States Congressional Serial Set Volume 4880 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ...all roots showing any tendency to send up seed stalks, as well as those whose leaves do not conform to the type of the family, should be removed and destroyed, and, after pulling, all such roots as show any tendency to divert in any way from the original type selected should be likewise rejected. The greatest care must be taken in pulling and sorting the roots preparatory to siloing them for the winter, to see that none are bruised or injured, as such roots rapidly decay and are likely to so spread the infection that the entire silo may be destroyed before spring. There are a number of different kinds of silos, which, however, differ in detail of construction rather than in principle. A popular one is made by digging pits 15 inches deep, 3 feet wide, and about 9 feet long. The "stecklinger," with all the leaves on, are placed in these pits in long, hollow, tapering piles or " ricks" running the entire length of the silo. The interior open space is about 12 inches wide at the bottom and is formed by piling the roots with the tops of the roots about 1 foot apart on the floor of the pit and gradually drawing them together as other roots are placed in position, so that in the completed silo an air chamber runs the entire length of the rick. While silos of any length may be constructed, they are seldom made longer than 9 or 10 feet, for in case decay should start in any one portion, it might destroy the entire contents of the silo before spring. (PI. XXXIX.) WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT WITH SUGAR-BEET SEED. The Department of Agriculture, realizing the importance of the foregoing facts to the beet-sugar industry of the United States, has undertaken to assist in the establishment of a pedigreed strain of sugar-beet seed and to...