505 



new, but thoroughly rotten, in order that the beet roots may not be 

 caused to fork out by coining in contact with hard straw. This 

 forking or branching prevents proper maturing For this reason, 

 stock-yard manure is not directly applied to the beet-root crop, 

 but to the cereal crop which precedes it. Artificial fertilisers, 

 such as superphosphate of lime, are often used instead of stock- 

 yard manure, and may be applied at the time of sowing, either 

 separately or mixed with the seeds. In the case of soluble 

 nitrogenous manures, such as nitrate of soda or sulphate of 

 ammonia, it is always advisable to apply them when the seeds have 

 germinated, and the plant is able to utilise them. Manures in which 

 the phosphoric acid is to the nitrogen in the proportion of two to one 

 give very good results as regards the production of sugar in the crop. 

 Sowing. For experimental purposes, sowing may be done by 

 hand, but when beet growing is attempted on an industrial scale, 

 a seed drill should be used, which delivers the seeds regularly, 

 without waste, and facilitates the subsequent method of cultivation 

 and harrowing. The seeds are sown thickly, at the rate of 16 to 20 Ib. 

 to the acre, in lines 10 to 14 inches apart, and not more than i to 2 

 inches below the ground, a light roller being run on the ground after 

 the sowing. Experiments have shown that at that depth a higher 

 percentage of the seeds will grow than at any other. Also, that close 

 planting gives : 



Roots richer in sugar. 



Containing less saline and organic matters. 



Hence, it is less exhausting to the soil, and produces heavier 

 crops. The inference is that close culture is more profitable, both to 

 the grower and to the manufacturer. In drier localities, the 

 distance between the rows might be increased to 16 or 18 

 inches each way, so as to allow to each plant a greater 

 superficial area for drawing moisture from, and also for 

 diminishing the evaporation through the leaves. For this colony, 

 where hand labour is so expensive, it might be considered a good 

 plan to sow a little wider apart say 18 to 20 inches between the 

 rows so as not to impede the operations of horse hoeing and sow- 

 ing 1 8 to 20 inches apart, whilst restricting the distance between the 

 plants in the line to 9 inches. The thinning should be carried out 

 when the plant has grown two to four leaves. Hoeing is begun 

 as soon as the plants show above the ground and mark the row, and 

 is constantly carried on at intervals of a fortnight as long as the 

 leaves will allow. Early and constant hoeing is strongly to be 

 recommended, as it destroys the weeds when they just show, and 

 also keeps the surface of the soil well pulverised, thus checking the 

 excessive evaporations in the daytime by breaking the continuity of 

 the capillary action in the ground, and besides favouring the absorp- 

 tion of the moisture and dew during the night. After a dry sum- 

 mer a few seed-stalks may appear in the field, and should be 

 removed. 



