FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 23 



THE CULTIVATION AND CARE. 



BY W. H. GILBERT, BAY CITY. 



(Abstract.) 



In his talk, Mr. Gilbert explained the methods that he had found 

 most advantageous in the growing of sugar beets. In order that the work 

 may be economically performed, the use of special machinery is desir- 

 able and, as it is an easy matter to destroy the weeds just before or 

 just after they appear above the surface of the soil, the importance 

 of early and frequent cultivation should not be overlooked. 



The weeder is an excellent tool as it will not only lessen the amount 

 of hand weeding but it can be used to prevent the formation of a crust 

 before the beets have time to germinate. The use of the weeder will also 

 assist in conserving moisture, by forming a thin dust mulch. 



As soon as the beets are up sufficiently to mark the rows, the culti- 

 vator should be used. If the land is level and has been properly pre- 

 pared, a four-row cultivator will answer but for the first two or three 

 workings many prefer to use a two-row cultivator. Have the shovels 

 set to run as close to the plants as possible without injuring them. 



A serious mistake is often made in delaying the thinning so long 

 that the beets are seriously injured when the work is done. The thinning 

 may commence as soon as the beets have formed their second leaves. 

 They should be thinned so as to leave one plant to every eight or nine 

 inches. When thinned to nine inches the results would be fully as good 

 and, generally, better than when they are left six inches apart and the 

 labor will be greatly reduced. The cultivation should be kept up during 

 the summer until the tops cover the ground. Under favorable conditions, 

 and if the thinning was not delayed too long, there will be little trouble 

 from weeds but for the part that cannot be removed with the cultivator, 

 it is well to go through the fields and cut them out with hoes. 



There is no crop that suffers more from lack of proper attention 

 in thinning and cultivation, but, if this work is attended to properly 

 there is no crop that will show the effect more than the sugar beet. 



