CULTURE OF THE SUGAR BEET. 173 



railroads centering in Portland allow very generous terms for transportation of the 

 roots, and for any distance not exceeding 50 miles the rates are 50 cents per ton ; while 

 for distances of over 50 miles, and not exceeding 110 miles, the rates are 80 cents per 

 ton. This admits of obtaining roots from very long distances, and tbey have this 

 year been grown in small crops in the entire section extending from Farmiugton on 

 the north to Haverhill, Mass., on the south, and from Orono on the east to Concord 

 on the west. The pulp will be carried back to the farmers at the same rates for 

 freight, and will be sold to the producers of roots at §1 per ton, which will afford 

 them a cheap source of valuable cattle food. 



In order that the farmers with whom contracts for roots were made might be in- 

 structed as to the methods of culture to be followed, the agents of the company de- 

 livered to each one, and to all others who might desire them, copies of the following 

 circular : 



HOW TO RAISE SUGAR BEETS. 



Portland, March 31, 1879. 

 To the farmers of Maine :- 



The Maine Beet Sugar Company is now ready to contract with farmers to supply 

 them with genuine sugar-beet seed, and to pay them §5 per ton for the crop of beets, 

 cash, on delivery at the nearest railroad station, or $6 per ton, cash, on delivery at the 

 Forest City Sugar Refinery in Portland, either by wagon or vessel. The seed will cost 

 20 cents per pound, payable next fall in cash or beets. Fourteen pounds of seed will 

 plant one acre. 



Almost every farmer has raised beets, or mangel- wurzels, which require similar cul- 

 tivation. In order to get a good crap, say 20 tons or more per acre, the needful con- 

 ditions are, early planting, good manuring, deep plowing, thorough harrowing, 

 plenty of seed, timely thinning-out, careful hoeing and weeding. With these seven 

 conditions, a good crop is certain. We will name some of the farmers, among many 

 others who raised satisfactory crops of beets from our seed last year : 



Tons per acre. 



William Connor, Fairfield 20 



Ira E. Getchell, North Vassalborough 20 



W. W. Harris, Cumberland 22£ 



John B. Morrison, Farmington 40 



Henry Piper, Benton 40 



H. L. Crosby, Winslow 40 



Charles B. Seavy, Benton 49£ 



Last year, however, many farmers planted too late, or upon land not in proper con- 

 dition, or did not attend to thinning and weeding at the proper time. Of course tbey 

 failed to get a satisfactory crop, as might have been expected under such conditions. 



TIME OF PLANTING. 



Early planting is specially important. The seed sprouts best in cool, moist weather. 

 The young plant thrives in the rains of early spring. By early planting, the beets 

 get the start of the weeds. At first the beet grows slowly, but when once fairly rooted 

 it becomes very vigorous, so that, later in the season, after thinning and weeding, it 

 will take care of itself. Early planting enables the farmer to get the thinning and 

 weeding done before the haying season begins. Just as early in May as the soil can 

 be thoroughly loosened and pulverized, the seed should be planted, in rows twenty- 

 four or thirty inches apart, and covered from one-half to one inch deep. Land plowed 

 the fall before can be got ready earlier, and is therefore preferable ; but this is not 

 absolutely necessary. 



PI1EPABATIOX OF SOU,. 



The soil should be a deep, mellow loam, free from standing water ; clay loam and 

 sandy loam are both good. The better the soil and the more highly manur* d the larger 

 will be the crop. Any kind of dressing is good : old, well-rotted barn-yard manure, super- 



