Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-19

At the recent meeting OF the New York
State Farmers Institute held at Sidney,
I'm Delaware county, the subject of sugar
beet growing was deliberately discussed.
Mr. j. /. Rogers spoke ON the profits Of
Growing Surar-Bccts and Their Culture"
He stated that there are now eight beet
suear-factoucs I'm this country. and that
several moro will be built this year.
The prices paid for bccts range from 81
to $3.50 per ton. and 10 grow an acre Of
beets costs from S2j TO SO, according to
the experience of the farmer and other
circumstances. while the profit ought TO
De from $50 TO so per acre.
In answer TO questions, Mr.. Rogers gave
the following cultural directions
Beet lands are not confined to valleys
or fats ANY land that is free from
stones. that can be titled TO a depth Of
twelve to fifteen inches. will grow bect5
rich In sugar. Deep blowing is essential
The soil should be made friable TO tho
depth OF L inches. This should DC done,
not by turning the subsOil 10 the surface,
but by following the pillow with a subsoil
plOW that looSg 10 the Subsol but does
not bring il 10 the top. Then thorCughly
inches, and thus prepare a good seed-bed
it IS better TO plow the ground early in
the spring, Their harrow 10 and Jet IL lie
until the weeds start 60 grow. Then,
iu-t before sowing the seed harrow again.
and so destroy the first crop of weeds
Commercial fertilizers do not carry weed
seeds 90 the land. as does stable manure.
II the land Is fairly rich. 40 10 $40 pounds
OF high grade fertilizer per acre VIII pro-
a f. rls. Il
be sowed broadcast and narrowed iu. II
has NOT been found profitable 10 trans
plant bccts when seed can be bought for
l.ls cents per pound.
The seed is sOwn with seed-dril. at
the rate of ii pounds per acre, putting in
the seed from 81 10 ! inch deep. The rows
should DO from IS 10 20 inches apart ana
straight. that thoy may be more easily
cultivated. When the plants are ? inches
high. with sharp hoe cut them out SO
they viii stand 80 inches apart ia the
row. We now have two or three plants
in a. hill. The work of thinning SO as TO
leave only one plant in a hin must be done
by hand. Take hold OF the best plant
with one hand and with the other pull mp
| the remaining plants. This is the only
slow and expensive work in tine cultiya-
ton Of sugar-beets. After the thinning
ls done. the wire-wccder may be used
TO advantage, ana II the Heid IS reason
ably free from weed seeds II will not
require much handwriting 20 keep down
the weeds. The culuyatOr should be used
often and with care, 50 as to keep the
rows clear OF weeds as near the plants as
possible. They should be cultivated as
often as once In 10 10 days. and II weeds
appear, these must DE kept down until
| the beet plant possesses the ground
Cultivation and wedding are usually
finished by the LIST of July, and the crop
will require hut little more attention until
harvesting. when the boets can DE plough
ed out with an ordinary reversible pillow
The tops should bo cut Off al the base
or The lower leaves. and may be fed at
once or left on the ground for a fertilizer.
A large amount of the plant-food taken
from the soil by the beets is contained in
the tops and crowns. If this H. returned
10 the soil We have put back more than
ope-nalf Of the fertility which the plant
has taken from 10.