The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-03-15
SUGAR BETS.
Approved Methods In Growing Them
Under Irrigation.

lied for The purpose of cooperative eSs
perinents by farmers in the culture OF
these beets. The following instructions
on methods of raising sugar beets un.
der system of irrigation were pre-.
pared by an expert for the use of the
members Of the different clubs and will
be Of interest in other sections where
beets are grown by Irrigation:
All land should be plowed in the fall.
say from 13 to IA inches deep. and II
necessary In the spring from six tc
eight inches deep. Here. where we
have SO much frost and snow in the
winter, we usually use disk harrow
or cultivator in the spring and work
the surface of the ground well so as to
prepare good seed bed. In most cases
the land should be rolled before plant.
Ing, but great care must be taken not
to work the land when it is very moist.
as it will pack too hard for the beet
drill. e- @-...
The seed. is planted with drill made
for the purpose, drawn by two horses,
planting four rows at time from IL
to 20 inches apart, thus giving ample
room for burrows for irrigation. Seed
should be planted from one-fourth to
one-half inch deep; if deeper, a poor
stand of plants is apt to be the result.
Fifteen to 20 pounds of seed per acre
is required.
The thinning is done when the plants
have four leaves by taking a narrow
hoe four or five inches wide and spac-
ing the beets in punches from six to
eight inches apart. A small boy follows
the man hOeing and removes all plants
from each bunch except one. the
strongest and healthiest. In rich soil
leave the plants about six inches apart.
and in very light soil it is sometimes
necessary to leave them ten inches
apart, each farmer being his own judge
in regard to this.
After thinning a cultivator is drawn
by horse through the rows. and great
care is taken not to cultivate too deep
or hill up the young plants. as they re-
quire all the air and sunlight that it is
possible for them to have.
After the first cultivation we hoe the
second time to clean out all weeds and
remove any surplus beets left at the
time of thinning. Right after this hoe
ing the beets should be far enough ad
vanced to prepare, for irrigation. We
do this by using the same cultivator
only attaching small six inch furrow-
er on the rear end. and we work every
other row, leaving nice ditch Of sutti
cient size to carry the water without
flooding the beets. The second water
ing we alternate the rows. thus giving
enough moisture each watering: but Of
course this depends upon the slope and
condition of the land. If the land has
much of slope or is inclined TO be a
light sandy loan. it may be neces cary
to water each row every time you irri-
gate during the season.
We never commence irrigating until
the beets show they require moisture
usually letting them suffer few days.
and by so doing it gives us nice long.
tapering beet If watered too early, we
usually have short, spriggy. undesira-
BILE beet, as Is the case by using too
much manure OF ny planting on alkali
land. .. .sa- ..--... ...-
Great care should be taken not to
give the beets too much water, as it
may prove greater detriment than
not having enough. Cross bitches are
made every 20 to 80 rods, depending
upon the slope and nature of the land.
If this is not done. the upper part of
the field is saturated before the lower
has sufficient. Flooding and overflow
ing must always be avoided, and for
this reason, when possible. land should
be selected with nice slope.
Cultivate the rows as soon as posi-
BILE after each watering from five to
six inches deep. to allow the beets to
develop and retain the moisture as long
as possible. Care must be taken all
through the season not to bill up the
plants or break off the leaves. Beets
should be watered from two to four
times during the season, and it usually
takes about 20 to 80 days after the last
irrigation before the beets are ready
for harvest.