Bnporf of the Chemist for Agriculture. 845 



DIRECTIONS FOR GROWING BEET. 



The Soil. 



Any soil on which a good crop of maize or potatoes can be produced might be 

 considered capable, under proper conditions, of producing a good crop of beet. The 

 typical soil, however, may be described perhaps as a good sandy loam. 



Manuring. 



It is quite probable that most of our suitable soils contain as yet sufficient natural 

 fertility for the production of a good beet crop. Should the use of manures be resorted 

 to, nothing should be attempted without preliminary experiment should show the 

 necessity of it, beyond the use of phosphatic manures only, such as superphosphate or 

 Thomas phospate. Farmyard manure where used should not be applied directly to 

 the beet crop, but may, if the soil requires it, be given to the preceding crop. It is not 

 desirable to sow beet on freshly' broken grass land ; it might follow wheat or some other 

 cereal crop. 



The Preparation of the Ground. 



The autumn preparation of the land for the beet, or the mangold, or carrot, is 

 usually a ploughing to a depth of 8 or 9 inches, followed by a subsoiler which will 

 loosen the soil to the depth of 6 or 7 inches more. At the present time it is not advised 

 to go beyond ploughing deeply. The soil is then reduced to a perfect tilth. It is 

 desirable that a final thorough scarifying of the ground should take place immediately 

 before the sowing of the seed. 



Planting of the Beets. 



The beets may be either planted by hand or a small Planet Jr. or other hand drill. 

 Where the drill is used it is usual to sow from 12 or 15 lbs.; in hand planting a less 

 quantity will be found sufficient. The condition of the soil determines the depth of 

 sowing the seed. In a dry soil with little probability of early rains, a depth of i^ inches 

 might be recommended, while half an inch would be found sufficient in a soil in a moist 

 condition. The plants are afterwards thinned to eight inches apart in the rows. 

 Wider planting produces a larger and coarser root, but one without the sugar purity 

 and value of the smaller root. 



Cultivation of the Crop. 



The first cultivation should be commenced as soon as the beets are plainly dis- 

 cernible in the rows. The cultivation on small areas, up to a few acres, could be 

 carried out by a small hand wheel hoe or by the ordinary hoe. The first cultivation 

 IS shallow. 



Thinning of the Plants. 



This is the most important operation in the growth of the crop, and to delay the 

 work beyond the suitable stage in the life of the plant means in most cases the failure 

 of the crop. The process of thinning should take place as soon as the beets show four 

 (4) leaves, and after the first cultivation has been carried out. With the rows at 18 or 

 20 inches apart, a desirable distance for the best results, a strong plant should be left 

 at every 8 or 10 inches. 



The roots will probably show the maximum sugar percentage in February or 

 March, according to the season and locality. In many localities the crop, if left in the 

 ground through the winter, increases a great deal in weight, and consequently gives a 

 very large bulk of fine fodder relished by all classes of stock. 



The Trouble Involved in Growing the Crop. 



The trouble involved in growing the crop is put forward as a serious objection, but 

 such an objection is not well founded. The crop requires certainly some attention, and 

 timely thinning and proper cultivation are essential to its success. A considerably 

 better crop in feeding qualities than the mangold, the carrot, the turnip, and other root 

 crops, its milk producing and fattening powers, fed under proper conditions, must 

 sooner or later make it a warm favorite with our dairymen in a large portion of 

 Victoria, and its many fine qualities will be found to more than compensate for the 

 labor expended in its production. 



FRED. JNO. HOWELL, 



Chemist for Agriculture, etc. 

 Agricultural Laboratory, 



440 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. 



