The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-05-01

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of Mangel Beets have been kindly fur
nished by Mr.. w. G. Damon OF Napa
Beets do best in deep, sandy loan,
mainly because such soil is easily
kept moist by working. But they will
do equally well in black adobe or vel
low clay. when thoroughly cultivated
so as to retain the moisture. Any
land adapted to corn or potatoes will
produce good beets. They also do
well in alkali land, and will extract
the alkali, thus improving the soil for
other crops. Beets do not exhaust
the soil more than wheat. They are
great air feeders, gathering all their
sugar through their leaves. and tax
ing nothing from the soil except wa
ter and a slight trace of salts. Like
all vegetables, they do best in rich,
stEpng land. I never irrigate my
beets, though moderate use of wa
ter will improve the crop. II manure
is used it must be old aud well rotted
as green manure renders the soil too
porous and the crop will dry out if
not irrigated after July
The land should be plowed in the
fall and left as rough and well
drained as possible through the win
ter. In March or April it should he
plowed again. but not narrowed down
until the heavy rains are over. Then
lay off the ground as for corn, in rows
one way, four feet apart, for Long
Red Mangels; but Yellow Globe, or
Su0ay RaatS uha,IId ha ,.lantaJ +braa
feet apart. Sift in the seed with the
hand, walking at full pace, using
from five to seven pounds to the acre.
Cover with the harrow; if early, one
or two inches deep by narrowing with
the rows and no clodding or rolling
afterward, as heavy rain after plant
ing will harden the land if it is left
too smooth; If late, plant four inches
deep by narrowing across the rows,
and clod-mash or roll thoroughly af-
terwards, to hold the moisture Two
men can plant five acres in a day,
and no tools are needed except a corn
marker and a harrow. I never use a
seed drill. Success depends largely
upon planting at the right time The
y.
as heavy rains after planting will har-
den the earth around the roots April
is generally the best time to plant, or
even May, if the land is kept moist.
The Long Red Mangel yields the
largest crop on deep, rich soil, often
producing 25 to 40 tons per acre. 1t
can be pulled without the spade,
oonac ont .laa1 anJ 4. 1-arx- Ir;@+Ia
crisp and tender. If harvested about
Christmas it can be corded up like
wood, mot piled in heap in cool,
dry place, and it Will keep nicely until
June. The air must circulate through
the mass to prevent moulding. Wilt
ing does not injure, but improves
them. When harvesting, clean off all
dirt and cut the tops closely
The Yellow Globe Mangel is more
turnip-shaped, and less brittle and
watery: it yields well, is very easily
pulled, and does better on thin, dry
soil than any other variety. The Su-
gar Beet is smaller and grows more
in the Ground, but it is richer in SUI
gar, aItl yields 6 reat crops on good
soil. But the Long Red is the general
favorite, and very extensively grown
by dairymen, though the others may
be better for horses.
Never use hot water on the seed: it
is liable to weaken the germ. if it
does nut utterly destroy it. I have
found the following treatment very
successful: Three or four days be-
fore planting, dip the sack of seed in
tub of milk-warm water, and leave
it there one day. Then take it out
and lay it in the warm sun. Cover it
up at night. Every morning dip the
sack in warm water Ia moment or
two), and leave it in the sun. The OBJ
iect is to keep the seed moist and
warm, but not to leave it under water
after the first day In about four
days the sprouts will begin to appear.
Now plant it, and if the soil is
moist and warm it will come up with
in ten days. But it must be planted
in moist soil, of course, or it will dry
out. Seed planted before the first of
April need not be soaked.
After the plants are well started
they should be thinned out. One
every six inches is enough, and later
still remove half of these, leaving
them foot apart for Long Red. Do
not neglect this if you want large
beets. One hoeing is enough, but
keep the ground well-stirred with the
cultivator the first part of the season.
1t will pay to go over it every two
weeks in May and June.
Bird Seed.