Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-04-02

"'NN' rNh'i hAipilf NHt Il'uts
beets for the production of seed.
Among the best varieties may ~
m ntioned Vilmorin's improved an,
the Kleinwanzleben bred by Dippe
Brothers at Quedlinburg, Saxony. Tn,
latter is undoubtedly the best in Tn,
hands of inexperienced farmers.
The station is Informed that seed car
be secured from Zlmpe Bros, 81 Bea.
= vel street, New York; August Rolker 4
Sons 1876 West oath street, New York
City; c. H. Dietz, Gold street. New
York, or Meyer IL Raapke, Omaha,
Neb.
The ground should be plowed deep.
= in loamy soils with sub-soil not too
tenacious fully eight or ten inches.
Unless the sub-soIl is naturally mellow
sub-soil pillow should follow the regu-
lar one, stirring up the ground to "A
depth of l6 or 20 inches, and leaving
the sub-soil still IN the bottom of the
furrow If the blowing is done in the
fall the ground should lie rough
through the winter In the early
spring 1t should be narrowed until the
surface is as mellow as an ideal garden.
On sandy loan and soils with natur-
ally loose texture, use the roller TO Sc
cure compactneSS. On soils containing
much clay when at all moist, the roll
Ter will do more harm than good.
As soon as the soil reaches temper
allure OF 30 degrees +, and certainly be-
fore the middle of May the seed should
be planted. The seed terminates at
lower temperature than corn and the
young plants can better withstand
slight frosts, hence it is safe to plant
beets earlier than corn. 1t is wise 10
plant early that the young beets may
secure firm hold on the soil, with "A
long tap root before the dry weather
sets in.
While, to secure large yield per
acre, the rows should be as close to-
gether as possible, it is necessary to
have them IS or 20 inches apart to per-
NIT cultivation 10y horses. Make the
rows straight TO allow the cultivator to
run safely close to the rows. Sow the
seed with an ordinary garden drill.
putting on Is pounds per acre to secure
a good stand.
Start the cultivator as soon as the
rows are plainly visible and thoroughly
thereafter both to kill the
weeds and to conserve the moisture.
When the beets begin to show the F.,
fourth leaf they should be thinned to
me plant in a place, from SIX to eight
inches apart in the row. Large beets :;
lre worthless for sugar making. The :.
actory wants them to weigh from one
md One-half to two and one half
pounds each, with a long straight an
divided tap root. To secure beets of
his description there must be but one :,
liant in place, Yet the space between
.djacent plants must not be excessive.
Experience in Nebraska-has shown that
tx to eight inches is the proper dis :
ance between plants in the rows. :,
1t is absolutely essential that the en- b.
ire beet should be below the surface Of b.
be GROUND as all OF it exposed to the o.
un is useless for sugar making
Most OF the cultivation may be done
y horse power or with the hoe, but tn, /
thinning must be done very largely by :,
ne human hand. The plants may be v
ut out with a hoe leaving punches >
bout six inches apart; the strongest
liant of the bunch is left grow ing
lille the weaker ones are removed by
and. In Germany and France this sc
ork is done largely by women and u
lildren who become adopts and can n
ocomplish far more in day than the II
hlhlIlatcd. Inc work IS very mOnOt- u
nous and eXhausung. 80 -,
Unless the field is unusually clean, n
le beets should be hoed at least twice II
ereafter in addition to the thorough 10
,ltiyation between the rows, and the
mt should be hauled up oyer the ex-
,sed roots. us
When the leaves cover the ground en-
ld the crop has taken possession of d.
e field, cultivation should stop and ~
e plants be given time to fully ripen Al
Id develop saccharine matter. If cul-
'ation is prolonged and the vegetable
'owth thereby too much stimulated, TN
e sugar production Will be dimin- WI
ned. When the outside leaves begin W.
turp x..l1nu. ia, Io,tg .v, ,.,,,, .,,J v