CULTIVATION OF THE BEET. 129 



equal quantity of fine soil, and applied either broad- 

 cast in the spring before harrowing, or sprinkled about 

 the plants at the time of cultivation. It is also an ex- 

 cellent compost for seed-beets, and can be put into the 

 holes and incorporated with the soil at the time the 

 beets are " set out." 



Bone-dust and superphosphate of lime, particularly 

 the former, are excellent fertilizers. Peruvian guano 

 is a powerful stimulant, but its effects, when used 

 alone, are not favorable ; it is better when mixed with 

 the two previously named manures in the proportions 

 of one of guano to two, or even three, of bone-dust or 

 superphosphate of lime. These manures should be 

 thoroughly mixed, and kept from the air for one week 

 before they are used. 



Such of the beet leaves cut off in the fields as are 

 not wanted for stock, when spread upon the ground 

 and ploughed in while green, furnish an excellent 

 manure, equal, if all are left, to six or eight loads of 

 stable manure per acre. Linseed oil cake powdered, 

 and sown broadcast before harrowing at the rate of 

 half a ton or a ton to an acre, or sprinkled about the 

 plants at the time of cultivation, is an excellent ferti- 

 lizer. Bone-dust and wood-ashes, or bone-dust, ashes, 

 and lime, in equal proportions, are excellent. Lime 

 from gas-houses, thoroughly mixed with stable ma- 

 nure, makes an excellent compost for the beet. Chlo- 

 ride of sodium or common salt, which on some soils 

 and for certain crops makes a good compost, is very 

 unfavorable for the sugar beet, unless mixed with 

 certain other materials in the form of an artificial 

 6* 



