Arizona republican., 1891-05-03

drainage be practiced. It would be use less to attempt to raise sugar beets on level land without tile drainage, espe- cially in a rainy seassn.
 FERTILIZATION.
 Happily, in most American soils there is still sufficient natural fertilization to produce a good crop of sugar beets while in the soils of Europe, where sugar beets have been grown for years, the farmers must depend on fertilizers to insure remunerative crop. The soil ingredients most essential for successful production Of the sugar beet are nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash, lime, and magnesia.
 Most soils contain sufficient quan- tity of magnesia, and the press cakes from the factory, which should be re- turned to the soils, will supply any de- ficiency.
 PREPARATION OF THE LAND FOR PLANNING.
 The field in which beets are to be planted should be selected and plowed in the autumn to the depth of at least nine inches. The blow in each furrow should be followed by subsoiler, which will loosen the soil to the depth of six or seven inches more.
 ROTATION.
 Beets do best after wheat or some other cereal. It is true that soils on which beets have not been grown, as the soils of this country, may produce beets for several years without harm. Nevertheless, proper rotation is always desirable.
 A good scheme of rotation is, first wheat, then beets, then clover, one crop of which is cut for hay and the second crop plowed under, then potatoes, wheat and beets in the order mentioned. By this method and judicious use of stall manure and commercial fertilizers, the fertility of the soil can be maintained and even increased. Beets should follow wheat or a cereal crop, because this crop being harvested earl v leaves the ground ready for autumn blowing, a prerequisite to successful beet culture.
 The beets should be covered to the depth of one-half to one and one-half in- ches, according to the condition of the soil. If the soil be moist and in ex- cellept condition the beet seed should not be covered more than half an inch. If, on the other hand the soil be very dry, they should be covered to the depth of one and half inches.
 CULTIVATION.
 As soon as the beets are large enough to mark the rows, cultivation with the horse or hand hoe may be commenced. This is essential if the grass and weeds appear above ground at the same time.
 When the beets show four leaves the process of thinning should take place. If the rows be eighteen inches apart a vigorous plant should be left every eight to ten inches. Careful selection should be made and all the puny plants de- stroyed. It is better to save the vigor- ous plants even if regular intervals are not preserved, but no space should be left greater than twelve to fifteen inches in extent. Much of the thinning work can be done by narrow hoe, but where the plants are very close together, at the place where the preserved plant is to grow, the work must be done by hand. It is well to have thorough hand hoeing at the same time, and the subsequent cultivation, in most seasons, may be carried on with horsepower.
 HARVESTING.
 The time for harvesting varies in diff ferent localities. In California it is said that the beets planted in February are ready for harvesting by August. In general it may be said that beets planted the first week in May will be ready for harvesting about October 20. Harvest