The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-04-23
THE SUGAR BEET.
How They are to be Tiled--Full Direc-
tions to Those who Plant Them.

THE SUGAR BEET.
How They are to be TfIled--FuII Direc-
tfons to Those who Plant Them.
The following circular has been issued
by the Oregon state board of commerce
in regard to the sugar beet seed which is
being distributed throughout the country
under the auspices of that organiza-
ton:
In the effort to have experiments made
in various sections of the state, for the
purpose of ascertaining definitely whether
sugar beets can be produced in Oregon,
of a quality and quantity, and at cost
to warrant the establishing of beet sugar
manufactures, the following directions
for planting and cultivation of the beet
has been obtained from those who have
had experience therein.
Select soil that will not become hard
during the growing season. The sugar
beet, if raised in proper soil, with proper
cultivation, will grow all underground,
except a very small crown. If the
ground becomes hard SO that the beet
cannot expand underground, it will be
forced above, and be worthless for sugar,
as all that portion of the beet that pro-
jects above ground, contains no sugar,
but impurities that prevent the crystali-
zation of sugar.
Plow the land not less than II inches
deep, the first blowing, as early i'll the
season as practicable. Plow very shall
low the second time, not over four or five
inches deep. Work the land well, after
this last blowing, pulverize the surface
thoroughly. Then if the rainy season is
about over, let it remain from ten to
twelve days, before sowing, in order to
allow the moisture to rise to the surface.
If the seed is sown on freshly prepared
ground, it will germinate Immediately,
and the weather should be warm and
dry, the moisture will recede from the
surface, the germs will die, and the seed
becomes worthless.
The ground must be thoroughly pull
verized on top, and the seed planted in
drills fifteen inches apart, not over one
half inch deep, and thinned out SO as to
stand from three to five inches apart in
the rows. The thinning and first weed
ing should be done as soon as the young
beets can be distinguished from the
weeds. After this, all that is necessary
is to keep them free from weeds.
A light, sandy loan, or alluvial soil is
best. However, the best land in the
world cultivated as is usually. done in
raising beets for stock would be worth
less for beet to manufacture into sugar.
And unless the farmer follows instruc-
tions in raising beets for this purpose, it
x
side on the same land, one lot grown as
directed for sugar might show by analysis
from IA per cent. to 20 per cent. sugar,
while the other lots, cultivated as is
generally done for stock, and long dis
tances apart, would grow large, mainly
above ground, and contain very little
sacharine and be unfit for sugar. The
farmer will obtain fully as large crop
if cultivated for sugar, as he would for
stock in the usual way. The beets would
be smaller but there would be more of
them. A beet for sugar might weigh
from one-half to three pounds, and
grown all under the ground except a
small crown. It is therefore essential in
order that the test may be of value for
the end desired that the instructions be
followed strictly.
ing samples for analysis take only those
that have grown all underground, of
good shape, and do not weigh over two
pounds. An analysis of beets raised in
the ordinary way will give no test of
value.
Your attention is called to the follow
ing extracts from the report of the COM
d. c., for the year 1881, on the sugar
beet, and quoted from the most reliable
European authorities:
Experiments in close planting, con-
tinued for series of eight years, gave
the following results: 1st, richer; I'd,
better quality; Sd, of larger yield in
weight; 4th, less exhausting to the soil"
Also
Beets at smaller distances will pro-
duce more sugar and absorb less of the
saline matters. Now, we know that the
constituent properties of sugar are fur
nished entirely by the atmosphere, and
that the saline matters are furnished by
| the soil, and by cultivating the sugar
beets at smaller distances from each
other Chat is, closely planted) they are
less exhausting to the soil. Close cul-
ture is more profitable at the same time
to the grower and the manufacturer.