Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-11-03
Farmer Allen Again. e
Alma. Mich, DC.

Although there have been no teets taken |
i'm AT this factory as yet, tests and careful |
estimates OF tonnage have been made by |
those who have harvested which have |
thoroughly demonstrated that although |
this has been poor year for ] crops the |
sugar beet has not on y held lis own. but |
has beaten all crops rs money maker, |
and will he the crop of the future Tor the |
progressive farmer
Ii is now time that We begin prepare |
lions Tor next years clOp, and we give
here some suggt sliuns which " YOU read
and follow car, fully Ylll greatly improve
your crop another year
The farmer should begin by fail plow
ing ana should also follow n certain 70.
tatlon in order to keep his soil in the best
possible condition.
Corn, wheat, sugar beets, oats or barley,
and clover makes good five Years iota-
ton. and sugar beets, oats or barley. and
clover makes three years rotation. The
first named gives time TO TT the ground In
the very best possible manner
Manure the clover sod well during the
! fall and winter, then turn 1t under about
six inches deep in the spring and plant TO
corn
SOW the corn ground to wheat in the
! fall After the wheat is cut, remove it as
soon as possible, disc the stubble over and
drag down 50 as 10 start all weeds possible.
As soon as The weeds get a good start,
pillow about five inches deep and drag down
well. So as to start a second crop of weeds,
letting these get "A good start, tnen late IN
the fall pow nine or ten inches deep, and
if your subsOl Is cay and hardpan, use
The subsOll pillow IN the bottom Of each
furrOW 10 the deph # six or seven inches
more THIS leaves your land IN good
shape to dry out carly in the spring
Just as soon a. you can get onto this
land in the spring, drag 1t over Nth a llnc
tooth drag 50 as to start all weed seed.
After The weeds have got IA nice start, drag
aud XIII them. Just as early as possible
disc or cultivate deep, part Of your beet
ground and iii II up in good shape and
sow, putting part of your beet seed in very
early, that is, as soon as the ground IS
warm enough to make seed sprout
Keep the balance OF your gound well
worked every time any weeds appear,
putting in your beet seed at intervals OF Il
week or ten days, striving 10 get through
sowing before the first of June.
The farmer that grows only one TO three
acres Of bcets should have all Of them
sowed lay the fifteenth or twentieth OF
May, as it is the early sown bcets which
are testing the highest per cent Of sugar
and showing the greatest purity.
The early bets get deep root before
dry weather comes, and will stand the
drouth better. Tue thinning can be done
earlier and be sent out Of the way before
having time When ground has loose
suusoi the subs soil plow need not be used
Ground fitted as described will be almost
entirely free from weeds which IS a grea'
! factor IN successful beet raising. To fiji
corn slubbe ground for beets the slubbles
should be removed entirely or else tie
, disc harrow should be used until the stub
bles are chopped up into small pieces, thcr
they can be turned under by using jOintel
on the pillow so that they will be entirely
" out CT the way.
DO all your blowing for beets in the fal
if YOU possibly can and pillow deep, as II
will do no harm to turn up plenty Of raw
soil in the fall. The freezing and thawins
s Of winter and the rain and sunshine o
: spring make that raw soil, if thoroughly
: worked IN The spring, fine seed bed. d.
!, not be afraid of trming the soil befCr
4 seeding if il Is not wet, and be sure TO pu
the seed in very shallow ! TOT Of an incl
being plenty deep enough.
Nne-tenths Of the farmers who plaute,
- sugar beet seed this spring planted TOT
! deep. Timothy sod, especially if 1t has
lot of June grass in it, is not very gooC
= beet ground, and if not ploHed unit
:. spring, is very poor. If you have such
piece ot ground which you wish to put in
to beets be sure and plow it very dee
this fall, then work it thoroughly in tn,
early spring, and continue working
quite late, not trying TO get the bets il
:. until ii has heen thoroughly worked
= Stubble ground or potato ground is pre-
!" ferablG 10 sod ground
= Clover sod ii plowed deep in the fall
- and thoroughly IN the spring, makes goo
!; beet ground.
: Sandy soils can be MANFRED in the ia
with a medium coat and plowed, bu
heavier soils should have very light Goa
d Of manure, if any, and if it is used, appl
!, in the fall.
The very best way to manure is TO appl
10 the crop of the year before beets.
s. Land which was used this year Cor bee,
e may be planted again to beets next yea
l. without any difference in the quantity c
S quality of the crop being apparent, bu
y after two crops OF beets have been take
& of land, il should be given rest fror
this crop for al least two years
Yours very truly,
LOTHIAN ALLEN,
A Ia r. - II