Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-03-24
How TO Treat the Soil for Sugar Beets
The Latest Bulletin Sent Out BY the Expert
mental Station.
SCGAR BEEF

harvesting sugar beets, was issued by
this Station in March, 1897 and distrib-
uted 10 farmers growing beets to supply
a factory, and TO those receiving beet
seed from the Station to be grown in a
co operative experiment.
In the spring of 1898 regular bnlle.
tin, No 100. was issued, reporting the
results of the experiments conducted in
1897, and containing, besides, detailed
directions for the culture of beets. The
supply of both these bulletins is now
nearly exhausted and this pamphlet is
issued TO finish information TO the
growers of beets in 1899.
SOIL AND CLIMATE.
1t has been pretty we'll demonstrated,
in the two years 1897 and 1898. that the
climate and soil of the lower peninsular
Of Michigan are we'll adapted TO the
growth of beets containing a high per
cent of sugar All soils IN the state. as
far as tested. have proven of the right
quality for this crop, except stiff clays
and black, swamp muck Any soil
with these exceptions. that will produce
n good crop of corn or potatoes. will,
with proper cultivation. produce prof
table crop of sugar beetS. Sandy loans.
because naturally porous, head the list
of most available soils.
If the subsoil is hard and relatively
impenetrable by the desired long tap
root of the beet, il must be broken up
by the subsoil plow 10 a depth, Ger.
tainly, of foot from the surface, and
better eighteen inches. A layer of soft,
mellow soil of this depth must be pro-
vided either by the natural texture or
by the use of the subsoil plow Natural
fertility is required 10 produce the
largest yield. If il is wanting the at
tempt must not be made to supply it by
blowing under coarse manure just prior
20 sowing the beet seed. 1t has been
found, in such cases, that the beets in.
stead of growing with long, smooth
conical tap root, tend to be branching
aud irregular in shape, fault that in
jures them materially in the estimation
of the factory. the manure should be
applied Ct least year previous TO SOW.
ing the beet seed A rotation of crops
is thus required. A four year rotation
Ia probably better than three year,
although there are no definite expert.
ments on this point Beets should fol.
low wheat or some other cereal which
will allow plowing in the fall, and, if
needed, subsoil at that time. The rota.
ion must be adapted TO the character Of
the soil If the loan tends toward
clay, a hoed crop, either corn OF pota.
toes, perhaps, should be interposed be-
tween two consecutive crops of beets.
the frequent blowing and intertillage
the two great density of the
land. If the loan be sandy it would be
wiser TO plow seldom TO prevent loss
Of humus. In either case the manure
should be applied TO the crop immedi-
ately preceding the beets or 10 the one
two years before, thus insuring its
Incorporation with the soil
The use OF commercial fertilizers is
by al means 70 be commended for this
crop. Select those furnishing the nitro
gen from mineral sources either as nj.
trate of soda or in some similar imme.
diately soluble and available form. Fer.
tliaers rich in phospboric acid and fur.
nishing large amount Of potash are
also valuable Apply the heterogeneous
broadcast after the beet seed
Is sown and prior 10 the first cultivation
PREPARATION OF THE GROUND
On clay loan the sowing should be
done in the fall and the ground left in
the furrow through the winter. The
subsoiling should, as far as possible, be
done in the fall. Where the soil is
sandy loam verging toward clean sand,
the plowing may be deferred until
spring, still using the subsoil plow where
needed. Whether the ground be plowed
in the fall or spring, il must be made
mellow by frequent narrowing. The
roller is used in dry season only
On either sandy or lnmpy ground. 1t Ia
entirely on wet land or upon
soils containing much clay. If the roller
Is used harrow follows Immediately TO
prevent the escape Of moisture. Make
the top of the soil as near perfectly level
rs possible. Do not SOW the seed until
the soil is in the condition of an ideal
garden. If rain threatens, il is wise to
postpone putting in the seed until u
shower shall have germinated the weed
seeds. then the young plants are killed
by a smoothing harrow, thus saving
part of the labor Of wedding by hand
later
As soon as the temperature of the soil
reaches 90 degrees Fab, the seed should
ne Dlanted Beet seed oermiuafaa at n