The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1897-04-30
HOW TO RAISE SUGAR BEETs.

Some Interesting Facts for Those
Who VIII Cultivate the Crop in
South Carolina.
The sugar beet will be tried in South
Carolina this year. There will be
number of experimental acres in differ
ent parts of the State. There is no
doubt rs to the adaptability of our soil
and climate to this crop and some sur
prising results will be obtained. The
following from a report of @. w. Chan
cellor, United States consul at Havre,
France, made last July, will be inter
esting and instructive to those who will
experiment with the new crop this year:
"A large acreage of beets is sown an
nually in France, and this is not to be
wondered at, seeing that even in un-
favorable seasons the crop pays the far
mer better than wheat or any other ag-
ricultural product. In 1894 more than
I, ZOO. 900 acres of land were planted in
beets, giving total production of 49,
400, 600 tons Of the root, or an average
of nearly tons per acre. worth about
81 per ton for forage and the manufac-
ture of beet sugar. From so to 90 per
cent. Of the beet root raised in France
is manufactured into sugar, the yield
being from ! to per cent. of the gross
weight of the root AS to the expense
of manufacturing the best sugar that,
of course varies, but it may be com
puted ut 10 to l2 francs per 100 kilo-
grams, 80 cents to 81. Is per 100 pounds.
1.-The experience of French growers
shows that the expence of cultivating
one acre of beets is as follows: Prepar-
ing the land So; 5 pounds of seed so
cents; hand wedding and thinning
81. %; first working and transplanting
81. 25; second working 81; gathering
and piling beets and tops So; total $40.
There is absolutely no waste of the
product of beet; every part of the
vegetable is utilized and rendered val
liable.
1.-The pulp after the Juice has been
expressed for sugar is devoured by cat
tie and is extremity nourishing The
leaves and stalks are utilized as food
for cattle and especially when fresh,
otonly increase the animals fat, but
largely increase the yield of milk in
the COW. The dry leaves and stalks
when mixed with straw afford excellent
and wholesome food during the winter
for cattle and sheep.
Experience in France shows that
all land suitable for wheat may be en-
ployed for the cultivation of beets. 1t
is necessary to avoid n soil too compact
or containing too much clay A soil
composed of sand and clay will serve
we'll for the cultivation of the beet A
soil too damp is not suitable. because
in this case the root gains quantity, but
loses IN quality. A soil moderately
humid and exposed to the midday sun
should be preferred.
Land intended for the cultivation of
the beet should have II soil that can bo
ploughed from . to IL inches deep in or
der that the growing root may easily
penetrate it. 1t is necessary above all
to avoid land that is shaded by trees
and over which the air cannot circulate
freely.
IN France COW yard manure is
greatly preferred over that of the horse.
\ field heavily manured will produce
more beets. but the quality of the sugar
will be i'll inverse ratio to the excess of
manure. Good ground, we'll manurcd,
which has been cultivated one or two
years i'll other crops forms the third
year an excellent preparation for the
beet, without additional manure. Veg
etable manure is to be preferred for the
reason that an excess of it will not di-
minish the sugar as animal and chemi-
0al manures are likely to do. Ashes,
lime and mari are much used in France.
The seed should be planted the middle
of April, or not later than the end Of
that month.
They should be sown in furrows
and covered with harrow or with the
hand to the depth of half an inch or
three quarters of An inch. When the
weather is warm and favorable, tho
ground sufficiently wet and the seed
good and fresh they will sprout in
about eight days; otherwise they may
not germinate for fifteen or twenty
days. The increase of the beet is very
rapid after the first working. When
the plant has about six leaves or more
all plants that are within s or 8 inches
should be drawn up and spaces of more
than 10 inches filed with them.
''The crop should be gathered in
September, at which time the beet has
generally acquired its full growth.
''When the ground is soft enough
the root may be drawn by the stalks
and leaves, but if the ground is hard an
iron instrument is used After the
beet is drawn it is left on the ground
for day to dry, then the stalks and
leaves are cut off and the beet put in a
secure, dry place. They may thus be
kept several months if kept dry and
warm, and free from frost.