Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1890-05-16
TERMS, $500.
SUGAR BEET CULTURE.
How the Sugar Beet May. be Sue
cesSfully Grown.

How the Sugar Beet May be Sue
cessfully Grown.
The following is the best instruction
and advice obtanable in regard to pre-
pairing the ground,.the way and time
OF sowing, and the treatment of the
growing plants, for the successful rails
ing of sugar beets. These instruc-
tlons are compiled from those issued by
the department of agriculture, Wash
ington, and by the Oxlrd Beet Sugar
Co.. Grand Island, Nebraska.
THE SOIL
has to be carefully selected. The best
is rich deep soil, with subsoil that
allows the surface water to pass
through. Although it requires con-
siderable quantity of moisture for its
growth. it cannot bear standing water.
1t is advisable to select the best piece
of land available, not toe wet of course
but neiter too dry. A sandy hill
for instance might dry out too quickly
Land that will produce good wheat
crop will do.
WORKING TEE SOIL.
TO obtain growth it is best to plow
deep, to allow the beet to extract rs
much as possible from the soil. But
this can be done only gradually, i. g.,
by blowing to 2 inches deeper every
year so as to reach depth of 12 to Ia
inches. This method refers only to 4
deep soil. Where the soil is 6 to 7
inches deep subsoil plow must be
used, thereby preventing the running
up of dead subsoil. Land which has
been plowed twelve inches deep in the
fall, does not require to be plowed in
the spring. When the plewing is 6nis-
he'd, the land must be worked thorough
ly with sharp harrow, IN order to get
rid of old roots and trash. Rolling
the land will also generally improve it.
PLANTING.
The seed should be drill ed in rows
16 to 18 inches apart, and not deeper
than one inch. Or, they may be plant
ed five or six seeds in hill, (not too
close to gether) the bills being six to
eight inches apart. In verv sich soil
the hills may be Ave or six inches
apart; in poor soil eight or ten inches.
The time to plant depends somewhat
on tho season. but should not in any
case be later than the 25th of May. 1t
is suggested that each farmer mako as
many as three paintings, so as to give
as thorough test as possible, the frst
planting being made about the sth or 10
til of May, the second 18th to 18th, and
the last from the 22nd to 25. 1t will
take the seed from ten days to two
weeks to come up, and from the time
of their first appearance they should
be well cultivated, the weeds kept
out and the soil kept loose. The beets
can be rolled after coming up with
out inj jury, provided it is not done
when tho dew is on.
THINNING.
AS soon as the fourth leaf appears
the rows must he thinned. by hoeing
the drilled beets right across the row
in such a manner as to leave bunch
of four or five plants in every six or
seven inches. Then after day or
two more thin down the hills by hand
to one good plant In each.
When the beets are planted in hills
pursue similar course. so as to leave
one good, strong plant in Il hill. When
the beets reach such 4 growth that the
leaves entirely shade the ground which
should he by the middle or Goth of
July, no more working the ground
is necessary, only keep the weeds pull.
ed out.
Barnyard manure should not be put
on the ground for beets. Well rotted
manure applied the previous year
and plowed in oyer winter may be Of
advantage.
Do not plant in ridges, but keep the
ground fiat. Do not plant where the.
beets will be shaded by other crops,
especially corn and trees, as they need
plenty of sunlight.
Further instructions in regard to-
harvesting will be published later and
mailed to ever yone supplied with seed
or who may ask for copy of same.
H. T. HELGEsEN,
Com. Agriculture and Labor.
Grand Forks. North Dakota.