Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-11-14


best kinds are those which make the drill,
drop the seed, and cover them at the same OPP
Grafton. Should any one procure one of the
smaller kind, which simply drops the seed,
the same process of making the drill and COW
erlng must be observed as is done when the
seed is dropt either from the hand or Il bot
tie.
If the machine used performs all the opera
'lons before enumerated, all that is necessary
to be done in the formation of the drills, is, TO
mark ont the direction of the implement, by
stakes or poles, taking care to have eNactness
observed in making each drill two feet apart.
1t is recommended by many to soak the
seed III warm water for twelve or even twen-
ty-iour hours before planting, as it induces
earlier vegetation than when put in without
ii. If soaked it would be proper after drain
ing TO dry them with plaster or ashes.
CULTURE.
In about ten or twelve days from the time
of sowing the seed, they will come up. Most
if not all of the seeds which vegetate, will
have from two to four tops; all of these, en-
cept the most rigorous ones must be pinched
or pulled oil as soon as they show their fourth
leat.-Niihout this be done, the roots will
prove crooked and defective
| When this is DONE if the beets be too thick,
or may have come up irregularly, let careful
hands be employed to thin them out TO the
distance Of IL inches apart in the rows, and to
transplant In the vacant places. In trans
planting, care must be taken to make the
holes. INTO which the plants are to be placed,
sufficiently deep to admit the tap roots with
out their being crooked. In inserting them
the earth must be pressed firmly around the
plants by dibble sticks and the finger and
thumb. The persons engaged in timing and
transplanting, must draw out the weeds and
grass by the hand those that glow between
the rows can be eradicated with the hoe or
cultivator.
When these processes have been performed.
IT VIII be an easy matter to attend to the ai-
ter culture, as the hoe and cultivator will a.
lone be afterwards required; the hoe between
the plants. the cutivator between the rows
If, however, the ground should become bak-
ed, 1t may be found necessary to use a small
plough, the ploughman to take care to first
take the furrow from the plants, and then
throw it back again, so as not to hill them up,
as all beets grow best when not earthed up.
he great object to be sought in their cult
Walton, is, 10 Keep them clean Of ,oeeds and the
earM open around them during thar entire
grO1cing season. Should they be worked at
the rightperiods, Just ,uhen tie grass and ,ceeds
begin to sioor their heads, the labor will be
comparatively trifling, the beets will be kept
IN a constant growing and healthy state, and
VIII not fail to attain large size.
-Four thorough workings through the sea-
son, will be amply sufficient. With these,
We will warrant in good strong ground, well
MANFRED, if the plants be regularly set in the
rows, one foot apart, the rows two feet, a
product to the acre ofI000 bushels. To give
this yield an average Of 3 lbs. to the beet is
sufiicient-they often weigh from 5 to Is and
20l lbs.
Should not sufficient number of plants
come up at the first sowing to fill up the va
cant places, let more seed be dibbLcd in, and
no fears need be entertained oftheir attaining
good size.
PULLING THE LEAVES FOR soILING.
If the beets be sown early, the leaves will
bear being pulled, without injury, twice in the
season-the first pulling to be done about the
middle of July. An acre will give at least
twenty double, horse carloads of leaves,
which we hazard nothing in saying will be
found as good food for mich co,cs and hogs as
were ever given to either. In pulling the
leaves care must be taken to break them off
from around the root, with the finger and
thumb, close to their insertion into the STEM
As general criterion to the puller, we will
remark, that those leaves which bend to the
earth should be pulled, and that those around
the crO1cn of the root should neUer be pulled.
In two or three weeks from the time of the
first pulling, the second crop ofleayes will be
ready.
GATHERING AND PRESERVATION OF THE ROOTS.
About the last ofOctober choose a dry time,
and digu your beets. The most expeditions
method will be to run a deep fIIrrow ON each
side of the rows, close to the roots; this will
loosen the earth sufficiently to allow of their
being pulled up with ease. Let the tops be
rung off 50 as to leave small portion of them
Throw the leaves and roots in separate piles {;
they should be Immediately put away, either
by throwing the earth up over them, or by
packing them away in a dry cellar.
With respect to the first method-piles of
about so or 100 bushels should be heaped up
on the surface ofthe earth, in dry situation
bring the top OF the heap to point, so as to
make an inclination on both sides that will
carry off the water without settling; then
throw earth on the pile sufficient to give the
entire heap a covering of IL inches. If there
be any danger ofwater settling around them.
trench so as to prevent it.
Some first dig hole before covering, but
we think burying on the surface preferable
If you have plenty of dry cellar room, YOU
may pile them away there with the certainty
OF their keeping until May. Between the
wall and roots there should be layer of straw;
and it might be well TO place slight covering
oil straw on the top of the heap to exclude
light and air.
We have taken some pains to prepare this
plan of culture for our readers. and we sin
cerely hope that the timely advice we have
taken the liberty If Civiucr tbnrn r,.,,. ,,-,,.,