The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-30
CULTIVATION.

When we'll up Inc young CeeD pIanb Cau
Nstald qui a severe frost, but cold severe
8enough to heave the soil the slightest will.
LOT course, Immediately destroy them. In
u Middle Georgia the first planting is usually
made from Feb. 10 to Feb. 20. Servings two
Il Or three weeks earlier than this can often
q times be made with success, where no severe
a weather occurs after the middle of jan
s u3ry. As one cannot anticipate the weather
4 it is not wise to risk the main crop in this
section before February, as very little is
gained by sowing in January while the soil
is very cold. OF course, it is desirable to
get the crop started as early as possible.
and get it established ahead of the grass and
weeds, but February sowings accomplish
this purpose very effectually. The soil
should be thoroughly plowed and pulverized,
and if it needs no manuring lines can be
struck off on the level at two feet. Let the
drill be very shallow, mere lines. and after
covering lightly with rake or other tool run
tie roller along the drills. The mere rolling
Of the drills will furnish covering enough
4 for the seed. 1t is a common error to cover
the seed too deeply. In a small garden
where the cultivation is done exclusively
with hand mplements-hand plow, hoe and
rake-the rows need net be further apart
than fifteen or eighteen inches, but in field
culture the distance should be twenty-four
% thirty inches.
Where it is necessary to manure the soil
Tor the crop of beets, and this necessity gen
orally exists, 1t is good plan to have the
burrows laid off in December or early Jan
rary, and apply any stable manure or COM
post in them so that the rains may wash out
partially the manurial elements into the
soil. When ready to SOW these burrows
should be run through with shovel and
listed on, and after leveling somewhat
these ridges SO made lay off shallow drills
and roll the seed in.
Inc beet requires plenty of nitrogen TO
iroouce large crops, and where the soil
stands IN need Of it nitrate of soda is the
proper thing to supply it. One hundred
and twenty-five to 80 pounds of it uni
iormly broadcasted over one acre as soon as
Ine seeds are sown will usually produce
very satlfactory results. IL the soil also
needs either phosphoric acid or potash or
both mixture of materials to supply
THESE elements should be made with the
nltrate and all applied at once. soon after
the crop IS put in. Hoeing and blowing will
put the fertilizer just right where the roots
will need it
FOR an acre this mixture is perhaps equal
10 anything that can be applied: Nitrate of
oous, IoO pounds; superphosphate (high
grade 400 pounds; kainit, 200 pounds.
other materials and other formulas can
oe used and made, to be sure, that will sup
ply the valuable elements as cheaply as the
one given, but none can be named that are
more readily procurable and of speedier
acTion than those named.
enough seed should be sown to insure a
perfect stand, and as soon as the young
planGS are well up a rake or. scuffie hoe
euGuIu De run along the rows on each side
ana close up. This will keep the weeds in
check and start the crop off at once. If the
S soL Is rich or the manuring high plant can
% lett every three or four inches. In fact,
a. =, Iue seed were not sown too thickly, and
~, utu not tau into punches. there will be no
4osu LOT thinning out at all. Where grown
III III taoIe use 1t is not desirable to have the
oee.a get very large. A beet the size of an
oluiinary tea cup is the most desirable for
eJ0k ng purposes. and by taking them out
a. a. i i as they get large enough, the rest can
Do lelG 10 grow on to the proper size, and
u ., the season for some eight or ten
rbtt an immense yield or Deets can be
=; va ined by this plan. Beets can be sown
Al me cold frames in December or January,
al anu y transplanted to the open ground early
a. FEBRUARY, if one is near enough to a
goo market to warrant the trouble of so
oolng. Much earlier beets can thus be Sc
ror many years it has been a practice
WIN the writer of growing a crop of
Fauishes along with the beets, and in the
same row, and as much for the purpose of
aiding the cultivation of the beet crop as
ior the radishes themselves After sowing
'ae oeets radish seed was also drilled thInly
aIong In the same furrow. These come up
NteTy promptly and mark the rows and en-
d-Ie the cultivator to hoe or harrow the
Ia iiI even before the beets are well up, and
WIInout danger Of hurting the young beet
pants. In rich soil, where there is an
abundance of weed seeds, the latter may
spring up simultaneously with or even be-
lore the termination of the beet, which ara
sly; SLOW In coming up ordinarily in February.
4 4 ne radishes can be drawn out as soon as
iIney are large enough for use, aud leave the
'Ahd TO the beets. 1t is an excellent practice