Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-04-10
Culture of
Sugar Beets.

At the Agricultural mass meeting
held at Madison, A. F. Postel. agricul-
turist at the Menomonee sugar factory,
smoke on the culture Of sugar beets.
In part he said:
We have made q successful begin
ming and no doubt will be able to
achieve great success II the farmers Of
our state will take up beet culture
as willingly as did those of Michigan.
One of the decided advantages the
raising of crop Of beets offers the
farmer is the fixing Of the selling price
of beets before the seed is even
planted. This eliminates the specu-
lative feature from the marketing of
the crop. The successful growing of
sugar beets necessitates thorough Gull
ture and a rotation of crops, thereby
bringing about heavier crops, DIVERSE
fed farming, the elevation of the
status Of farming in general, and last.
but not least, consequent rise in the
price of farm lands.
To get the best results in beet cul-
ture it is necessary that the proper
soil be chosen. A sandy loan, loan
or easily tillable clay soil we'll drained
and with q substantial sub-soil that
will hold moisture we'll in case Of q
dry season are the soils best adapted
to beet culture. The soil must be rich,
although not too one-sidedly rich in
organic or heterogeneous matter. 1t
should above all not be freshly ma
nured the same spring that the beets
are planted. The preparation of the
soil should begin the year before the
seed is sown. If beets are to follow
small grain, remove the latter from the
field as soon as it is cut and pulverize
lengthwise and crosswise, harrow,
roll and harrow again. In case the
pulverizer should not work, pillow shall
low, harrow, roll and harrow again
lightly. The rolling and narrowing
combined will preserve the moisture in
the soil if there be any. AS soon as
the field looks green with vegetation
apply your manure. Late in the fall
pillow deep. The very deep stirring OF
the soil is essential, Soil prepared in
this way will store more moisture
over winter and will produce smooth
beet with one long root.
The first work to be done in the
spring is to harrow the soil as soon
as it becomes dry enough on top and
the horses can walk over it without
leaving too heavy footprints. BY pull
Ann
on top, we preserve the moisture that
has been stored in it over winter.
After this harrow at least once week
until the time for planting arrives,
which is in May. If the soil must be
plowed in spring do so as early as pos
sible The heavier the soil the shall
lower the planting must be as other
wise the plants may not come UP
at all. Have your rows twenty, eight
cen, or still better, sixteen inches
apart, and the plant not less than from
eighteen to twenty pounds of seed per
acre.
AS soon as the beets show above the
ground, which may be from one to two
weeks after planting, cultivation he
gins. In some cases it. may be neces-
sary to cultivate before that time; for
instance, if, after a heavy rain crus,
should form on top, it would then be
advisable to break it. One shallow
cultivation a week will suffice to keep
the weeds down and the soil stirred
on top, so as to preserve the moisture
in it. When all the beets are well out
Of the ground and begin to develop the
third and fourth leaf, the punching
may begin. Take six inch hoe and
hoe right across the row, leaving the
buches standing about six inches long.
AS soon as this is done and the beets
show four well developed leaves, the
thinning should begin. Take care that
but one beet remains standing, prefer
ably a beet that stands singly outside
of the bunch, as this is generally the
strongest plant. AS soon as the tops
grow together and no more cultivating
can be done without breaking of
leaves, it is time to lay by the crop.
The breaking OF of the leaves should
be avoided, as it is through the inf1u-
ence of the atmosphere and sun
shine upon the leaves that the SUI
gar is elaborated in the beets. The
latter part of September or the
beginning of October the harvest be-
gins. The first work in harvesting the
sugar beets consists of the lifting OF
the beets with the help of the horse
beet litter. The litter is drawn by
two horses and straddles the row. 1t
loosens the beets, but leaves them
standing on the ground. The capacity
of the litter is about two acres per
day. After the beets are lifted they
are pulled and thrown in rows or piles.
Then they are topped, thrown in
larger piles and Immediately covered
with the tops to protect them from
sun and wind.
Q.-What is the cost Of raising an
acre of beets?
A.-That varies. It depends very
largely on whether the men do rs we
tell them or not. II they do as we
tell them and begin the work at once
thu vun~1. - orS tho 1iko-