The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-03-20
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
o.
Agricultural Readers

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A POINT IN THE CULTIVATION OF ROOT CROPS
That roots form very desirable adjunct to
the Winter ration of almost all kinds of domes-
tic animals few who have raised them will
question. At the same time from the large
amount Of water they contain, it is imperative
that they be raised at the smallest possible cost
in order to make their use profitable as a food
for animals.
Two things make the growth OF mangels ex-
pensvc. First, termination is imperfect; in
the second place, besides being imperfect, ger
mination is often slow to start. and being slow
the weeds get tho start of the young beets
thus necesstating much hand wedding and q
large increase in expense. These two things
deter many who would otherwise raise con-
siderable quantities from attempting their cul.
ture ut all.
The mistake that is commonly made and to
which wo especially desire to call attention in
this note. is that beets are usually planted
entirely too late; the common practice being
to fit and plant the root ground after the corn
is ont of the way. AS the result of experiments
made by the Cornell University, they have
come TO tho conclusion that this is not tho best
practice The beet is plant native to much
colder ATTITUDES than is corn, and will germi-
nate and grow In temperatures where corn would
do nothing. The root ground should be plowod
and fitted as early in the Spring as the land can
he brought into proper condition for the seed ;
that is deep rich mellow and finely pulverized.
At this time there is seldom q lack of sufficient
moisture in the soil to insure rapid and even
termination of the seed, while if planting is
delayed till the latter part Of May IN incipisnt
drought is often responsible for the slow start
Of the beets.
By planting early about the middle of April),
by the use of plenty of seed that is known to be
good and with the least possible amount of
hand cultivation, we have succeeded in raising
roots ut o cost so low that we believe they can
be fed Mt q profit.
The results Of tho past seasons crop are fairly
typical of our usual success, aud aro given here
with not as representing anything uuugnal in
the way of yield, but rs illustrative of what
may be expected with ordinary careful practice.
The land was clover sod and had received q
coat OF farmylrd manure in its regular rota-
ton. It was plowod and fitted with harrow
and uultvator till there was a seed bed such
ms the ono described. The bcetS were planted
April Is The season very wet aud tho
weeds were unusually numerous. thus necessi-
taing more than the usual amount of hand
wedding. Tho plot contained 3G.s53 square
feet, little more than threc-fourths of All
acre
crop obtained was lass then sevcn cents. The
cost of labor in the experiment was nearly
double that Mt which it can bo procured
ordinary farms. and even at these prices the
University has succeeded in moro favorable
years IN raising roots AZ cost OF Fl We cents per
buShcl for seed and labor Good amlhorities--
that Is. practical dairymen consider roots TO
be worth 10 cents per buShel for feeding pur
passes, when fed in small quantities rs nm
adjunct diocEiCr or HpuBLlgcr.
srEiSa MANAGEMENT or BEES.
The management Of hecs in the Spring Is
easy or difficult according to tho Fall prspara-
ton II the bees we're neglected 10 the Fall.
they may need help 70 live It'll the middle of
May when the trees bloom. They may get q
little honey before that timc, but not enough.
probably, IN most places to support life till the
time OF general towering In Il mild Winter
like this. the bees cGnuiiuc more honey than In
n cold Winter for the reason, perhaps. that ex-
cTcisc increases appetite.
The frat thing tobr done in Spring rs carly
~ possible IS TO sec II every colony has Il queen.
Queens, even young qnteps die ia the Winter
from no cause apparent, aud tho loss oil queen
NAV kill the colony nnloss the beekeepeF in
terfcfrs, Find the qneun, and the queens
eggs. Ii tho eggs be- abundant. the colony il
in condition TO live aud thrive. But if Il
quceu he found. and no eggs appear, treat the
colony IS if qucenloss, for the absence of eggs
shows that she IL wort HESS Let the qusen die
by fiuecr-und. thumb pinch aud then cut the
comb IN which there Hre eggs from another
colony. and iuscrt u little above the center OF
the frame nearest the broad chamber, that the
bees may raise another queen.
II there be other colony, then queen
must be obtained, not easy 10 find early ia the
Spring. Possibly, bit of comb with eggs may
be obtained from neighbours hive. If the
quceuiess colony he weak, the better way Is to
unite IL with another at once. Sprinkle both
colonies with water IN which is "A ittlu flavor.
ing extract. This gives them the same odor,
aud they become one colony ut once. Ii an
attempt be made TO keep weak colony till the
season opens, there will be no bees LETT, not
enough, probably, To bnild mp during the Sum
mer.
The next thing to know is the amount Of
food Oh hand ia each colony. II food is sutil-
cient 70 last til trees bloom. they may he left
nndsturbed. But whether they have much or
little honey, give them more. Feed with
warm honey or sugar strip. The object, often
stated in this column, is 10 stimulate tho queen
in order that when the harvest comes largo
force Of bees may BIO ready TO gather it.
As soon IA feeding begins, IN soon rs honey
begins TO come ~ from whatever source even
through the feeder, the queen "quckens in
her laying" and deposits as many eggs ~ the
bees can care for. Although the queen enters
upon a greater laying feat. yet she is held in
check by tue weather and by her workers or
nurses IL the number be small Instinct teaches
her not TO lay single egg more than tho
nurses can attend to- Massachusetts, HougLg,an
STRAWBERRIES THAT YIELD WE'LL FOR YEARS
II is often advised 10 fruit strawberries but
one or two years aud then To plow them under
and reset. We have in many instances in
dorsed this advice when referring 10 certain
sorts, sech rs Wilson's Albany Crescent and
others OF that class There arc sorts, however
that yield as we'll the second and third year ms
tho FIRST provided they arc well cared for
aud generously fed. Such sorts are Chas
Downing, Kentucky, Cumberland, Triomphe