SUGAR BEET 227 



on the surface will retard germination of beet seed 

 and interfere with the best development of the 

 young plants. The ordinary plow should be fol- 

 lowed by a subsoil plow that will stir the subsoil 

 several inches below the depth reached by the first 

 plow, but not throw the subsoil on top. The more 

 compact the subsoil, the more necessary does this 

 subsoiling become. Indeed, it cannot be dispensed 

 with, at least where the entire preparation of the 

 land must be done in the spring. 



Having thus reached a good depth with the two 

 plows, put on a spike-toothed harrow with long 

 teeth and weight it so that it will reach as far down 

 as the first plow went. If you have a narrow- 

 toothed cultivator for such deep work it would be 

 still better. There are various forms of cultivators 

 or harrows that can be used. This will give you 

 a soil thoroughly pulverized down to a depth of 6 

 or 8 inches, and quite well opened up. The surface 

 should now be prepared for seeding by going over 

 it with a light harrow that will give a seed 

 bed 2 or 3 inches deep in a perfectly fine condi- 

 tion. If the soil is very dry and there is danger 

 of its blowing in heavy winds, it may be well to 

 roll it. 



Sow the seed in drills 20 inches apart. A variety 

 of excellent seed drills or machines is available for 

 this purpose. Better use too much than too little 

 seed, as the beet is not successfully transplanted. 

 If the soil is reasonably moist and the weather 

 warm, thus favoring germination, several pounds 

 less an acre may be used than if the land is wet 

 and the air cold. Better use 15 or even 20 pounds 

 of seed an acre than have a slim stand because of 

 too little seed. This is a point upon which there 



