Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-06-05
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
3 uRar-bccts.

NJ. Corenwinder, in tho name of the
Agricultural Station Of the North, in
France, has determined from experiments
that those boots are richest in sugar which
produce less in weight. Cultivators
should, however, consider the fact that is
is possible to obtain beets which are at
the same time rich in sugar and Of high
specific gravity. For this it is necessary
to increase the number Of experiments,
producing rich beets, improve by judi.
cious selection, and renew the varieties
which may degenerate. NJ. Cvrenwinder
also relates tho following fact which he
has recently observed: at is disadvan-
tageous to cut tho leaves from tho beats
after they have been gather ed, for when
they are left for some time in this dee lpita-
tod condition, the sugar disappears in con-
siderable quantity, on account Of an ella.
boration which takes place in tho coils
with view to the production Of new
budsn
Professor Jellet President Of tho Royal
Irish Academy Of Dublin, has made the
following experiments upon the growth of
sugar-bcets in ireland: four specimens
were taken, and in tho growth Of ono the
manure used was common salt; in the
second case sulphate Of potash was used
in the third case no manure was used,
and in the fourth case sulphate of am.
monia. By optical experiment it was de-
termined that the yield in the first case
was 1899 per cent. Of water and 1912
pcr cent. Of sugar; in tho second c.so,
SO.27 per cent. of water and 1918 per
cent OF sugar il tho third case, 80 60 per
cent. "f water and l2.42 per cent. Of sugar;
and III tho fourth. 1882 per cent. of water
and 1854 per cent. Of sugar.
How to Succeed In Raising Melons and
Cucumbors.
A correspondent In Oswcgo county, New
York, describes process By which,
even in that climate, he has " splendid sue
cess in raising melons," The description
is somewhat lengthy but as its length re-
suits from ito cxuctncss, we will let him
convey to the reader all the particulars
without condensation. lie says:
"Soon rs the ground becomes little
warm l pillow, and then selecting place
where tho ground is sandy, I dig holes
about 10 inches in diameter and IA to l6
inches deep, having the holes about 6
feet apart each way. Leave them open q
day or two to allow the ground to warm at
the bottom then put into each hole near
~ half bushel Of manure-frcsh horse
manure preferred. Stamp down the ma
nure, cover it with the dirt dug out, about
p inches deep, and pat down with tho hoe.
The hill will now be quite dishing, soy 4
inches or mo.e. Now l place near my
melon patch q cask, into which put u
small wheelbarrow load Of fresh cow
dropping and q couple of shovelfals Of
night soil: Into this cssk put the soap
suds ard keep it full. If the weather is
dry | occasionally moisten the hills from
the cask evening is the best TIM. About
the 20th Of May cut up a thin, tough
sod and place it, grass side down, in an
old tin pun, and sprinkle about half an
inch in depth Of fine sandy loan upon it.
On this put my seeds, very thick then put
upon these another sod, as large as tho
pan, grass side up. Upon this I pour
teakettle of boiling hot water and set the
pan near q stove, where it will keep warm.
Each morning l pour on little more hot
water. In about three days the seed will
have sprouts about half an insh long.
Now remove the upper sod, shake the pan
little, and the aseods will rise from tho
fine dirt put upon the lower sod. Put
twelve or fifteen seeds in each hill after
slightly scratching the dirt. Handle the
seeds carefully, 90 as not to break the
sprouts. Cover about three.quarters Of
an inch with dirt. By taking this course
your vines will in two weeks be as far
advanced as they would be in four or five
planted in the usual way. Let the weeds
grow in and about the hill rs protection
from bugs and worms. The vines will
grow rapidly, and Of course somewhat
tall and spindling. If the weather is dry,
moisten from the cask two or three times
week, always ut evening. This will keep
the manure moist and in o state of fer.
mentation, causing considerable heat.
When the vines have grown about four
inches high remove the longest weeds and
perhaps some Of the vines, und fill in with
dirt nearly up to the leaves. By and by,
in moist day, remove the weeds from
tine hill, leaving them growing around
the borders. Thin out the vine to FIVE or
six, leaving some for the worms. Keep
the dirt we'll up to the leaves. Your bill
will now be nearly level. Finally thin
out to three or four of the most thrifty
vines. Remember the cask. Take away
the old dirt with your fingers and add
fresh dirt two or three times week. The
hill will soon become browning. Making
q small ditch around the hills, say two
inches deep, and fill this occasionally with
suds from the cask. After the vines near.
" cover the ground, and the melons are
mn not md xe~n ~ ~
the ends of the vines. In this way mel.
ons will grow much larger. I raise as
large and fine melons here in Amboy,
Osweko County, ION the eastern border Of
Lake Ontario) as l have ever saw on
Long Island or anywhere else. 1t of
course demands labor and care: but let
any one t:y this plan and he will find his
efforts amply rewarded. l follow the
same rule with cucumbers as with melons.
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