Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-05-16
BEET SUGAR,

Instruction. as to the Manner of Prepar-
ing the Soil and Cultivating Sugar
Beet.
Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor
Helgeson furnishes the following instruc-
tons in regard to the preparation of the
ground and the cultivation of the sugar
beet. The Instructions are compiled from
those issued by the department of agricul-
ture, Washington, and by the Oxnard Beat
Sugar Co., Grand Island, Neb.
THE SOIL
Has to be carefully selected. The best is
a rich, deep soil. with a subsoil that allows |
the surface water to pass through. Al
though it requires a considerable quantity |
Of moisture for its growth, it cannot bear
standing water. 1t is advisable to select
the best piece Of land available, not too
wet Of course, but neither too dry. A
sandy hill for instance might dry out too
quickly. Land that will produce a good
wheat crop will do.
WORKING THE SOIL.
To obtain growth it is best to plow deep,
to allow the beet to extract as much as
possible from the soil. But this can be
done only gradually, i. e., by blowing one
to two inches deeper every year so as to
reach a depth of IL to IA inches. This
method refers only to a deep soil. Where
the sosl is six to seven inches deep a sub
soil pillow must be used, thereby preventing
the running up of a dead subsoil. Land
which has been plowed IL inches deep in
the fall does not require to be plOwed in
the spring. When the blowing is finished,
a heavy sharp harrow, in order to get rid
of all roots and trash. Rolling the land
will also generally improve it.
PLANTING.
The seed should be drilled in rows Ii to
Is inches apart, and not deeper than one
inch. Or, they may be planted five or six
seeds in a hill, (not too close together) the
hills being six to eight inches apart. In
very rich soil the hills may be five or six
inches apart; in poor soil, eight or ten
inches. The time to plant depends some.
what on the season, but should not in any
case be later than the 25th of May. 1t is
suggested that each farmer make as many
as three paintings so as to give as thorough
a test as possible, the first planting being
made about the 9Th or 10th Of May, the sec.
the 22d to 25th. 1t will take the seeds from
ten days to two weeks to come up, and
from the time of their first appearance they
should be we'll cultivated. the weeds kept
out and the soil kept loose. The beets can
be rolled after coming up without injury,
provided it is not done when the dew is on.
THINNING.
As soon as the fourth leaf appears, the
rows must be thinned, by hoeing the
drilled beats right across the row in such a
manner as to leave a bunch of four or five
plants every six or seven inches. Then
after a day or two more, thin doWn the
hills by hand to one good plant in each.
When the beets are planted in hills, pur-
sue a similar course, so as to leave n
good, strong plant in a hill. When the
beets reach such a growth that the leaves
entirely shade the ground, which should be
by the middle or Goth of July, no more
working the ground is necessary, only
keep the weeds pulled out.
Barnyard manure should not be put on
the ground for beets. Well rotted manure
applied the previous year and plOWed in
over 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 or trees, as they need plenty of sun
light.
Further instructions in regard to har-
vesting will be published later and mailed
to everyone supplied with seed or who
may ask for a copy of same.