The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-17
Ole 8lesstngn.
TESTING THE SUGAR BEET IN
THIS SECTION.

THIS SECTION.
The Messenger lately discussed at
length, the prospect Or advisability Of
trying the cultivation Of the sugar beet.
It gave some statistics necessary to be
understood, and suggested that the
state agricultural department begin
the needed test. It would be wise and
timely II It would put seeds in the
hands Of well known successful and n
telligent farmers in different parts of
the state and let them make trials Of
adaptation and results.
Judge Locey. Of this city, a western
man, has already put out seeds he OBJ
tanned from the United States depart
ment Of Agriculture at Washington,
and has had correspondence with 1t
relative to the sugar beet cultivation in
our lands adjacent to Wilmington are
we'll adapted to the successful growth
Of the sugar beet, basing his opinion
upon the superior production Of the
watermelon. That delicious fruit at its
best contains much sacharine, and so
does the sugar beet. The supposition
is that soil that grows to perfection
h watermelon will grow likewise we'll
the sugar beet. That is altogether
probable. We have faith in this reas-
oning. The lands that grow the very
superior watermelons down the Cape
Fear, below this city, would produce,
we may believe, the sugar beet in great
perfection. 1t Is certainly we'll worth
testing. Judge Locey will supply farm
ers with seeds, and they can report
trough him results to the department
Of agriculture at Washington. One gen.
tleman in this city to whom he gave
seeds reports good progress. Others
have not yet reported. He has the nee
reports.
This new industry for the south may
prove indeed of exceeding interest and
value in the future-a veritable bonan-
"a. Who can foretell? The beets ma
ture according to climate, latitude and
time of planting, betw n 18th Septem-
beer and 18th November. You can not
have a second growth until selecting
an average row or rows and gather
ing every plant along a distance which
should vary as follows, according to
the width between the rows:
From rows 16 inches apart, length Is
feet. From rows Is inches apart, length
66 feet. From rows 20 inches apart,
length SO feet. From rows % inches
From rows "a inches apart, length so
feet. From rows % inches apart, length
AZ and nine-tenths feet.
The following directions are given by
the Washington department of agri-
culture to ascertain production, which
we copy for the benefit Of our farmer
friends, who are more particularly con-
cerned.
1.-THE beets grown in a row., of the
length above mentioned, are counted.
The tops are removed, leaving about an
inch Of the stems, h beets care
fully washed free of all dirt n wiped
with a towel. Where h row is not
long enough to meet the conditions,
take enough from the adjacent row or
IOWS " 1dnC ny LAC AONuAASU III
Rows Of average excellence must be Sc
lected; avoid the best or poorest.
Throw the beets promiscuously in a pile
and divide the pile into two parts.
This subdivision, Of one-half each time,
is continued until there are about ten
beets in a pile. From these ten select
two Of medium size. Be careful not to
select the largest or smallest.
From all Of the rest of the beets,
~nxyo %1n~o %uyo thu ra0lrC ~ vonnnvyod
with a sharp knife at the point indi-
Gated by the dotted line in the figure.
The beets, including the two saved as
a sample, are then weighed.
1.-THE number Of beets harvested null
tiplied by 1855 will give h total num-
Der per acre. The total weight Of beets
harvested multiplied by 1855 will give
the yield per acre."
We feel persuaded that there is big
money" for the south in the production
of beet sugar. We cannot see why the
colder, less propitious climates like
states Of our own land can find it profit
able to grow the sugar beet that this
land of the sun, with so much good soil
available shall not produce in great
abundance and excellence, surprising
i good results the sections indicated.
The chief Of the chemical division in
the United States department of agri-
culture in a circular he sends out says
of experiments and results that the in
vestigations must be very carefully
made to be of practical value. To this
end he insists that all he details of
the culture of the beet be carefully at
tended to, careful notes made Of the
growth of the crop, including the dates
of planting and thinning, the charac-
ter of the cultivation, the character of
the weather, dates and amount Of rain
fall, and variations of temperature"
The manner of measuring rows etc.,
as given in the previously given direc-
tions must be carefully observed. 1t is