The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1890-10-31

Suggestions and Recommendations
Questions TO be Answered.
Suggestions TO Beet Growers, from
the Nebraska Agricultural Experi-
ment station.
Because OF the great Importance OF
4he sugar industry to this state, the
Experiment station has undertaken the
labor and expense of collecting data to
ihow whether or not Nebraska can
raise beets sufficiently rich in sugar to
make this industry a success
To this end we distributed seed last
rear as widely as possible under the
circumstances. The results of this
york have been already published as
Bulletin No. IS, Agricultural Expert
nent Station.
This year there has been an almost
universal interest manifested through
put the state in the subject of sugar
Deets. A large amount of seed has
been distributed with suggestions as to
the manner of ~cultivating, etc. Many
farmers have already sent us speci-
mems of beets for analysis, together
with partial reports of their expert
ments during the season. Again let
me urge upon everyone who has ex-
~perimented in beet raising this year to
complete his work by sending to us,
Tor analysis, specimens of beets, to-
gether with as full a record of his work
as possible. If you stop short of this
all of your labor, SO far as furnishing
facts for the benefit of the people of
the state is concerned, has been in
vain. The analysis costs you nothing,
and this year you "a send beets at our
expense. In sending please remember
TO attach to each beet it's name, and
with each lot sent give post Office adj
aress, including county.
For complete directions as to send
ing specimens. see pages 2 and 81, Bull
letin Is, copy of which will be sent
Fou on application, if you have not it
ut hand.
Already many persons throughout
the state have expressed a desire to
continue growing experimental plats,
and numerous inquiries have been re-
ceived for seed, and for more informa-
tion in regard to cultivation. In an
swer to these the following suggestions
are made:
A good sugar beet soil" is a deep
moist loan that has been under Guilt
ration for some years, and is underlaid
by a porous sub-soil. 1t should be
deep, as the roots seek their nourish-
sment at a considerable depth. 1t
should have a porous sub-soil that a
good drainage. on the hand. and a
good reservoir for moisture, on the
other, may be had. The best locali-
ties are those on level or slightly slop-
ing land, protected from the strong
winds of early spring.
Preparations for planting should be
made this autumn by blowing as deep
as possible Twelve to fourteen inches).
If shallow blowing has heretofore been
the rule deep cultivation should be
reached gradually by blowing two Or
three inches d~eepereach year until the
proper depth has been reached. In
the spring pillow again, thoroughly pull
verize the soil and plank or roll it.
Measure exactly the ground to be sown
(say a space ten feet square for each
variety of seed); this is absolutely nee
sessary in order to estimate accurately
the yield.
The time of planting is important
and should be governed largely by the
temperature. Begin planting when
the daily temperature Cor the temper
allure of the soil) is from IS to so de-
grees F.; usually from the middle Of
April to the first of May. The seed
should be planted in rows from fifteen
to eighteen inches apart, and covered
to a depth of from three-fourths of an
inch to one inch. After seeding, roll
the plats to keep the seed from being
uncovered by the wind. When the
young pladts appear. the ground should
be hoed to prevent drying out, and to
keep the weeds down. When the
plants have reached the fourth leaf,
thin to a distance of from six to eight
inches apart, according as the soil is
rich OF poor. Hoe frequently until the
leaves cover the ground.
The experiment station will furnish
seed for experimental planting, of the
best varieties, to all persons applying
for same and enclosing two cent stamp
to pay return postage on seed. We
require further that each person taking
seed for the season of 1891 shall agree
to send samples of beets to the station
for analysis. without cost to US. We
will make the analysis, collect informa-
ton, publish results, and furnish each
correspondent with a copy Of the bull
letin free.
Applications for seed should be made
as early as possible, that we may know
how much seed to provide, and that it
may be prepared for mailing. This
seed will be distributed sometime be-
tween February 10 and April 10, 1891
If the sugar beet industry is ever to
be a success in this country we must
first raise our own seed. In selecting
beets for seed growing choose only
those that have grown well under
ground, are long and conical in shape,
and are not over two and one-half
pounds in weight. A good idea of