Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-02
GARDEN WILL
SUPPLY SlRUP

Iuo AOAUW1u8 IOB6IO4u6 IucW uuU0t
the title, Growing sugar beets for
sirup":
THE production of sugar beet strip
consists of two distinct operations:
The growing Of the beets and the max.
ing of the strip. The strip making
embraces two, essential operations, the
extraction Of the juice from the roots
and the reduction of this juice to the
desired consistency.
WILL 0RoW IN ANY SOIL
Sugar beets may be@grown and
strip produced In any tlllable soil cap
able OF producing good crops Of veg
etables. So anyone. having a small
piece Of fertile ground and the usual
garden implements /, is equipped to
grow the beets necessary for the homa
supply Of sugar.
In some localities beets are richer
in sugar than in others, but all sugar
beets II properly handled, ara capable
Of making strip. To those who are
not familiar with the growing OF sugar
beets the following brief directions
and suggestions may be helpful:
Sugar beet seed usually may be OBJ
tanned, at least in small quantities.
from the large seed dealers. A pound
Of seed will plant one-tenth Of an acre.
II it is done carefully. Usually few
ounces Of beet seed VIII produce a
quantity Of beets sufficient for strip
making and for table use for the aver.
age family The seed should not be-
planted until the ground Is warm and
the other conditions right for quick
termination and for the subsequent
growth Of the plants.
"The seed should be planted In rows
about 20 inches apart and may be
dropped either in continuous rows or
in hills. II planted In hills each hill
should contain from three to six seed
balls, and the hills should be about
10 inches apart; II planted in solid
rows the plants should be blocked %
soon as possible after they grow up.
The seed should be covered to Q depth
Of one inch. The covering should be
as shallow as conditions will permit.
that IL, 1t should not be 90 thin that II
will dry out and leave the seed with.
out sufficient moisture for germina.
ton, and 1t should not be 80 thick that
the young plant can not readily get
through to the light.
CAN PLANT ~ HAND
"ln growing sugar beets CONNER
cially the seed usually is planted with
q four.row drill, designed especially
for tho purpose. In planting small
lots Of beet seed for strip making, a
garden planter of any of the usual
makes will be found satisfactory.
These planters can be set 10 that they
will plant seed either In solid rows or
in hills. In case . planter is not avail
able, m area sufficient for strip max.
ing purposes can be planted easily by
hand. In this case shallow furrow
may be made with a rake handle and
the seed dropped by hand, and covered
by using the rake.
MAKING THE Strip
'The first step In making beet strip
consists in topping and cleaning the
roots. The crowns should Re cut off
at the point of the lowest leaf scar.
The reason for this Is that the crown
or upper part Of the beet contains .
large part Of the salts taken from the
soil in the process Of growth. 1t is de-
sirable to have the strip as free a.
possible from these mineral salts
which, II present in too large quaint
ties would render the strip unpd1at.
able.
SLICE eEETs VERY THIN
I'm cleaning the roots they may be
placed In tub or other suitable re-
ceptScle and covered with cool water,
to loosen the dirt and to make the
roots more crisp. After soaking for a
few minutes, until the dirt 10 loosened,
they should be thoroughly scrubbed.
A coarse brush with stiff bristles or
wire is best for this work. After the
roots are thoroughly washed they
should be cut in thin slices. A three
bladed kraut cutter securely fastened
ON the top of a barrel has been used in
experiments and found satisfactory.
The upper head OF the barrel should
will fall directly in the barrel. II
kraut cutter is not at hand, any slicing
device, the simplest Of which 10
butcher knife, will be satisfactory.
The slices should be very thin. Tho
thinner they are the more rapidly the
sugar IL extracted.
BOIL ON SLOW FIRE
They should be covered at once
with hot water and the barrel covered.
An excess Of water should be avoided.
as It. will require that much more
evaporation. The soaking process
should continue sixty minutes and the
barrel agitated occasionally without
1t. The water should then
be drawn off strained through, cheese
cloth and placed in a kettle for evap-
Grafton until the proper consistency is
reached. Care should be- taken to
avoid burning when boiling the juice"