The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-05-17
RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers.
THE BEET.

The common beet is a native of the south OF
Europe, middle Asia, and north Africa. 1t has
long been cultivated for its edible fieshy root.
Many varieties are known; they differ IN
shape and color. some being long, others ROUND,
and vary in color from dark red 10 white; they
also vary greatly as to time for ma .urlty. The
roots are boiled, stewed or baked, and are eaten
warm or cold. Thinly sliced, they are used as
an ingredient in salads, and are esteemed IN
pickles. The dried root is sometimes ground
and used as a substitute for coffee.
The beet contains large quantity of sugar.
The kind known as White Silesian, and other
varieties specially designated as sugar beets,
contain from ten to twelve per cent and up
wards Of saccharine matter, and are extensively
grown in some countries Tor their sugar-pro-
dncing qualities. as well as foT the distlllation
Of alcohol.
The production of sugar from beet has been
for many years a special industry IN many
parts of Europe. After the sugar has been alb
stTacted, the cake or pulp is used for feeding
cattle. This is valuable factor in the profits
of culture for sugar; it encourages the feeding
of cattle which results in making manure for
the land, so that wherever the culture has been
persisted in for a series Of years the lands have
been increased in their capacity for the produc-
tiOn of all kinds of crops
The leaves are also used for cattle food and a
method Of keeping them for future use, similar
10 that of ensjlaging green corn stalks, has long
been in use. The mangel wurtzel are varieties
of beets; they are used for cattle feeding ex-
clusively.
As for most root crops. the soil best suited
for the beet is a sandy loan, well enriched,
deeply stirred, and very thoroughly pulyerlzed.
The seed is deposited in shallow drills, which
are about thirty inches apart. In the culture
Of early varieties for table use. the drills need
not be more than fifteen inches apart. The
seed should be covered with about two inches
2 Il. = :.
and 1rlable; on c.ayey soils, rolling VIII be IN
juriOus, unless the surface is quite dry.
After the young plants are well developed,
they should be thinned out, so that those left
should be from eight to twelve inches apart.
The large varieties of sugar beet and mangel
wurtzel viii require even more than the great
est distance mentioned while some of the early
varieties for table use may not be more than
six inches apart. Frequent hoeings are essen
tial TO success in the culture of beets, not only
70 destroy weeds but TO stir the soil and en-
courage growth, more especially when the
plants are young, as this is found to be the
critical stage for if they cease to grow yigor-
ously during dry weather, the crop viii be much
diminished.
The White or Sicilian beet is sometimes Gull
tyated for its leaves which, under the name
Of chard, are used similar 10 asparagus. The
midrib of the leaf and portion of the stalk are
employed. The leaves are also boiled and
eaten rs spinach. Many varieties are produced
with leaves so finely cOlored that they have
been used as decorative plants in strawberries
and plsssure grounds.
TEE CAULIFLoWER.
This is claimed to be the most delicate of all
the cabbage family. The edible part is the
unexpsnded fiower-buds and their heshy stalks,
which are produced in a compact head, and
usually are of white color.
The cauiffioxVpr aTfaiuS frryaafeSf or,
IN warm, moist climates. 1t is not SO hardy as
other members Of the cabbage family; neither
VIII lt attain size or succniency in dry atmos-
phere; it also requires rich soil and plenty of
water when in growth. Although the best
caulifOwers are raised in frames during winter
and are ready for use before dry weather in
summer, yet good crops NAV be secured by
sowing seeds in the open ground in May, which
VIII give young plants ready for setting out
during August
Rich soil is necessary. and if of damp ma
ture, SO much the better. All necessary help
10 growth by hoe and cultivator should be
given. Usually, the heads viii commence TO
form about November, but if they do not show
any symptoms of forming heads before frosts
are expected, they can be lifted and set closely
together in a sheltered place, lifting as much
soil as viii adhere TO their roofs, and when
severe weather approaches cover them over
with foot or so III thickness Of dry leaves or
straw. Here they viii make good heads of
fair quality We have seen fine heads dug
out of the snow-coyered leaves on Christmas
day in Connecticut. They viii do equally
well planted lii sand in cellar that is not al
together dark.
ABOUT FLOWING.
In some judicious remarks about deep and
shallow blowing, the Massachusetts RoagkmGsl
says: a Unfortunately cor plows are not well
constructed. If we had plow that would stir
and pulveTlZe the sol and at the same time
keep it the same side up, then the rich sod
would be kept near the surface, and the fertil-
izers applied would be mingled with ii, and
thus make the most desirable condition for
rapid plant growth. We trust the time will
come when We shall have an implement that
viii thoroughly stir the soil and leave it the
same side up aud at the same time mingle the
manure with four inches Of the surface soil
until we have such implements we should be
cautious how we pillow the land much below the
rich soil"
1T has long been felt that the common plow
Is an imperfect implement, and various substi-
tutes in the line of rotary diggers have been
announced and sometimes put in practice, but
none OF these contTiyances have become popu-
lar. 1t is evident that mere locomotive power
is needed than can well be applied by mere
animal power. When steam plows were first
mooted, the idea was prevalent that the imple-
like implement with strong steel tines, eighteen
inches IN length which would be set TO rcyolve
and bite and lift and throw back the soil as q
rabbit throws back the soil when burrowing
With such an implement the surface rich soil
might as well be twenty inches in depth as foul
inches. There is no necessity for limiting the
depth Of the surface soil SO far as crops are con-
cerned.
TESTING SEED CORN.
The Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station
has been making test of the sprouting OF
corn. The following is the gist of the report
on the subject: From the samples taken from
the tips Of the ears an average of 7o3 per cent
eprOu ted: Of those from the middle of the
ears only $50 per cent. sprouted those from
the butts did the best, 76.1 per cent. having
spr3uted. OF the forty tests OF the Leaning
an average OF ga per cent. sprouted, varying
from ia the poorest sample to 100 per cent
IL TIE bcst. The poorer was from corn har
vested before fully ripened and left in the
shock over winter; and one that sprouted l0l
per cent. was from the same crop, hut huske6
AMI dried in the fall" The samples taker
frona the bin or crib, or having remained IL
the shock over winter, were the worst while
those selected In the fail and dried and kepi
from severe freezings, did fifty per cent. better
This is q significant hint about saving, curine
and Eeei ing seed corn.
KELsEY's JAPAN PLUM.
This name is given to a plum which wa,
imported from Japan 10 California ten YEAR
$50. The name must not be COMPOUNDED will
the Japan plum Of the Southern States, which