CULTURE OF THE SUGAR BEET. 177 



Beed to be used is a matter of considerable variance of opinion among the farmers, and 

 a very important number believe it to be quite as well to sow the smaller quantity, 

 provided ti.e seed be of good quality. It is difficult, they say, to sow the larger quan- 

 tity with the same regularity, though some farmers were met who considered it of 

 advantage to pass the drill twice through the same row, in order to secure uniformity 

 in the distribution, or at least to obviate the danger and difficulty of having bare spots 

 in the field that must be filled up by transplanting, which is both tedious and unsatis- 

 factory, or the space left must be lost. This method of sowing was said this year to 

 leave the fields in which it was tried entirely free from the troublesome and not very 

 sightly bare spots that so frequently prevail. 



The other recommendations in the circular appear to be very generally carried out. 

 The thinning, which it is stated may be done with a hoe, was effected in various 

 ways, but many of the intelligent farmers argue in favor of thinning by hand. In this 

 way they say it is possible to make a more careful selection, and leave only the largest 

 and more vigorous roots, and also insure leaving only one root, whereas with a hoe 

 two or more may be left in contact, a condition well known to have a deleterious in- 

 fluence, not only upon the quantity of the crop,but on the quality aswell. The roots 

 were left at distances from each other, according as it was the desire of the farmer to 

 produce large or small roots, varying from 6 to 10 inches, 9 inches being about the av- 

 erage. The other methods of culture were carried out as directed in the circular. 



The notions concerning the use of fertilizers are as various as those upon other mat- 

 ters. Stable manure is, of course, the favorite, and is applied at the rate of 5 to 8 

 cords per acre, and, for this year's crop, in the spring ; but artificial fertilizers are also 

 employed to some extent, Stockbridge's special fertilizer for sugar beets finding most 

 favor, though Bradley's superphosphate is used to a very considerable extent. Xo spe- 

 cial rule as to the quantity used and the mode of applying seems be followed. Two to 

 three bags of 200 pounds are in most cases considered sufficient, sowed broadcast just 

 before the final operations of preparation of the soil previous to planting. In a very 

 few instances the artificial fertilizers were distributed in the rows in advance of sowing 

 the seed, but, so far as we were able to learn, no appreciable difference could be no- 

 ticed in the crops from the several modes of distribution. 



More exact notions coucerniug the methods followed by the most intelligent and 

 progressive farmers, and especially the cost of production and the probable profits to 

 the farmers (which latter information it was our particular desire and object to obtain), 

 may be gleaned from the following detailed results of interviews with Mr. W. "W. Har- 

 ris, president of the Maine State Agricultural Society, and residing at Portland, and 

 from Mr. Hiram Hays, of Portsmouth, N. H. These gentlemen appear to have given 

 the subject of the culture thoughtful attention, and their statements may be considered 

 of great value. 



By Mr. Harris : 



"Planted 9 acres on good upland with equal parts of German and French seed at 

 the rate of 15 pounds per acre. The land planted in beets was cropped last year as 

 follows : grass, 2 acres ; turnips, 2 acres ; balance in corn. The corn crop was ma- 

 nured with Stockbridge's fertilizer for corn, but no stable manure was applied either 

 to the crops of the previous year or to the beet crop. For the latter, however, Stock- 

 bridge's fertilizer for beets was distributed in drills at the rate of half a tou per acre, 

 at a cost of $25, to be taken in the fall from the account for beets by the sugar com- 

 pany, who supplied the fertilizer. 



" The land was plowed both in the fall and spring to a depth of 9 or 10 inches. In 

 the fall plowing one man and team could plow li acre per day, making the cost §2 per 

 acre. The spring plowing was accompanied by subsoiling to a depth of 8 inches be- 

 low the bottom of the plow furrow. The two operations, or rather the double opera- 

 tion of spring-plowing and subsoiling was done at a total cost of §4 per acre. 



" Preparatory to planting the land was thoroughly harrowed with a Shares and Ran- 



12 SB 



