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

THE CULTURE OF BETS.
From The .9merieo,, Farmer.

to ourselves, has been that Of enforcinu upon
our agricultural readers the propriety of pavinU
attention to the culture of root crops for the
purpose of feeding their cattle through the
fall, winter and spring, and it has not been
without emotions of unaffected pleasure that
we have learned tina, our advice has not been
lost upon those to whom it has been address
ed. We have ever considered it alike the
duty and interest OF the husbandman, to pro-
vide liberal supplies of succulcnt provendcr
Tor his stock, and especially for his mich co,cs :;
and so far as the latter are concerned there is
no truth more uncontrovertible, than that
without generous allowance of such food
they cannot be kept proiitably to their milk
during the winter months, as milk cannot be
secreted, to any extent, unless the substance
on which the COW may feed be of character
ut once juicy and rich. One might as well
think OF converting iron into gold, by the
agency Of the blow-ppe and the cruiciblc, as
to expect that his COW can extract milk and
and cream from dry corn blades and tops. or
bay. If she support life with tolerabc APP
pearance of health and vigor, by the most IL
bcral allowance of any of these, i; is as much
as her owner can reasonably expect.
we would ask the experienced farmer,
who may have from ten to dozen cows at
the pail through the winter, which are thus
fed, whether it is not quite as much as his la
cation to the duties of the dairy, to furnish
butter and cream enough for his table! Why
Is this the easel 1t is because the cows
have been fed upon dry feed. These same
cows, we affirm, if fed fully upon root slops,
would yield not only an ample supply for
home use, but a considerable quantity of
butter for market; and that, instead of not de-
fraylng their own expenses through the Win
ter, they would be a source of proiit.-If this
nf tho. L.
believe 1t Is, we would ask. in all modestv
is it not time that our farmers, one and all,
should attend to this branch of domestic eco
nomy We SAY it is time, and under that i'm
preston, we shall proceed to call their atten-
ton to the propriety of making preparation
during the present fall, for putting in a crop
OF beets next spring. To us it is immateral
whether the variety be SUGAR BEET OR MAN
GEL WURTzEL; for they are alike nutritive
and productive. All we ask is, that either
the one or the other kind be put in, in the
proportion of one acre for every ten head of
stock; and in order that each and all may
not say that he is not acquainted with the
mode OF culture, we shall lay down a precise
and accurate plan for them to carry out. Let
us begin then, with the
CHOICE OF SOIL.
The most suitable soils for the culture of
the beet, are, first, a deep clay mould, we'll
charged with vegetable matter, sufficiently
frtabAe to not be sub ject to baking: Secondiy, a
sandy loan, moderately intermxed with clay /;
and also charged with vegetable matter !:
thirdly, ulluuial or other rich 6otionis: fourth
ly, any soiE that is neither an impenetrable
clay, or drifting sand, which may be natural
ly strong and well charged with vegetable
remains, viii answer, that they are not TOO
ADHESIVE for the penetration of the roots, and
NIL an n and hold
Clover-leys and grass-swards should be a.
voided.
PREPARATION OF THE SOIL.
Any ground which may be destined for
beets next spring, should be ploughed upthis
fall, and, if practicable, receive a second
ploughing through the winter Previous to
the second Ploughing, let twenty double horse
cart loads Of stable or barn-yard manure be
spread thereon and ploughed in: the deeper
the plough penetrate the earth the better. In |
the spring, from the 18th April to the LIST of
May, in the Middle and Western States
from the LIST of March to the ist of April, in |
the Southern states, let the ground be again
ploughed and thoroughly narrowed and roll
ed. We have prescribed three ploughings as
the best method of preparations; and so it is,
as the better the ground be pulverized, the
larger will be the yield Of roots, and more
luXuriant that ofthe leaves; but three plough
lngs are not indispensably necessary: ttco, or
even one, where convenience may not suit to
give more, will answer we have known an
excellent yield from one ploughing alone.
But whether there be one, two or three
ploughngs, the ground should be plouohed
deep and thoroughly pulverized; without fine
filth no root will yield well. immediately af-
ter the ground is ready the seed must be
soWn.
SELECTION OF, AND PUTTING IN, THE SEED.
We need not say that care should be taken
to get good seed, as every agricnturist knows
that his success will greatly depend upon his
choice of good seed. But to guard against
nIshaps of the kind, VIC would advise every
farmer, who may once chance to get the gen
1fne article, to reserve sufficient number Of
roots for seed, taking care to select such as are
largest and least deformed by strarolino
branches. Each root thus selected. if plant
ed out In the spring, in good rich earth, with
southern exposure, and kept free of weeds.
Will yield from Ii to 1-2 a pound of seed.
the which, if kept dry, will keep for four
years. Under the previous head we have
treated OF the preparation of the ground, and
1t IS our purpose to speak of the mode of
PUTTING IN THE SEED.
The ground having been previously plough
ed, narrowed and rolled, stretch a line across
it from north to south that done, trace Sc
ties Of slight drills, two feet a part, along the
line, either with small drill hoe, or the point
ola stick, about one inch deep. As your
drills are made, let a person drop in the beet
seed about six inches asunder, cover with a
garden hoe, taking care to press down the