Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-01-13
CULTURE OF THE SUGAR BEET.
Climatic Conditions. Nature of Soil and
Kind of Cultivation Required for
the Successful Raising of the
Sugar Beet.

mate, which IN the y nlted states covers
q vast area. While the plant develops
uncer great variety Of weather condi.
tions, more recent experiences seem 10
confirm in measure the previously ac-
cepted theory that the sugar beet as a
rule does best Ill regions where the aver
age temperature for the months of June,
July and August is about 20 degrees +.
DR.. Wiley in 1890 regarded the sugar
beet belt as extending about 100 miles on
each side of an isothernal line which
runs through the central part OF Michi-
gan. Experience since shows that the
area adapted to this crop is by no means
limited 70 this belt and that it is far
larger than has been supposed.
Sunshine is required 70 make sugar
Hence, the number OF clear and sun
shiny days that can usually be depended
upon in any section is an important con-
sideration, which has not been sutfici-
emily emphasized IN many of the articles
on the beet sugar subject
Another important climatic consider
alton is favorable weather during the
ripening and harvesting period. Clea
sunshine, absence of fogs and moisture,
are important at this period The beet
must also have sufficient moisture at the
right time TO produce the best results.
| This moisture must come either from
the rainfall. from irrigation or 1.-THE soil
| must be Of that peculiar quality thai
will allow subterranean moisture 20
reach the rootlets of the plant" which
is the case in parts Of California and
some other states.
While proper cultivation Of q subsoil
soil will enable the beet 10 thrive with
more or less water, il Is maintained that
an average summer precipitation of two
| 70 four inches per month is desirable
The experience in Nebraska shows that
good crop is assured, provided other
things are done properly, il May and
June are warm and not 10 wet, July and
August wet and not too hot, September
and October warm and dry. The longer
| the season the more favorable to this in
| dustry.
| The sugar beet thrives on a variety OF
soils In Virginia, warm clay or slaty
| soil, mixed with some sand and having
depth Of 10 inches or more, gave the
best results. In other states where tn e
! industry is not yet established fully, ex-
periments show that the plant thrives
on nearly all kinds of lands But never
| select poor land-use the best soils avail
4
ions on what farmers ordinarily call
good potato or corn land The soil must
be well drained, for while the beet re-
quires abundant moisture during the
| growing period, it does not thrive well
with wet feet 1t therefore does
much better in some soils than in others.
The soil must possess good depth, for The
beet is a deep.rooting plant, going down
| IL to Is inches.
New land, by which we understand
land that has only been broken one OF
two years, should never be chosen for
beets, as il produces crop inferior IN
| WELD and quality. Ii is also important
that the soil be such that the beets can
be extracted from the ground by beet
puller or plow without breaking the
root and without having lot OF soil ad.
here to it. In this particular, the sandy
loan is ideal.
In the matter of rotation Of crops al
Important factor is TO be observed
Beets may do we'll year after year on the
same land, especially if we'll manured
but the constant draft upon the soil for
the same proportions and kinds of food
which this plant involves, must soon
impair results.
In preparing the soil these conditions
should be observed: Land that has
been fall plowed must be narrowed as
soon as the frost is out Of the ground and
the soil is dry enough to prevent stick
ing This work will level the ground,
thereby holding the moisture in the soil
and the termination of the weeds, etc
To secure good crop, it is absolutely
necessary TO kill all the weeds in tht
ground before seeding. Here is where
most failures occur, and if weeds are
allowed to get start, the cultivation oi
the crop will involve much unnecessary
and expensive hand work Therefore
70 prepare a good seed bed, we advise
working the soil four to five inches
deep with pulvervizer, or better yet
with corn cultivatOr, once lengthwist
and once crosswise, making sure not &c
miss any spot in the field, as it il neces
sary 10 loosen any weeds that may have
already sprouted Then harrow length
wise and crosswise 10 level the soil per
fectly and finish killing the weeds. AT
ter this, pack the top soil TO depth OF
two 20 three inches well with heavy
roller never use a plank float for this
purpose, as foated ground is never wei
packed, and will besides increase blow
ing and washing The better the soil i,
packed after the weeds are killed. th,
better the seeds will sprOut. All tho
work must be performed at a time wher
the ground is In good working cOndi
ton; that is, not too damp, "a the work
ing Of wet soil must be strictly avoided
As the beet seed requires considerable
moisture TO Rerminate, 1t would also b'
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