150 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



tion more economically by frequent light tillage than by fewer cultures, which wil 

 permit them to get a foothold and require more labor in their destruction. 



"Thinning This is the most difficult and expensive operation in beet growing, 

 and upon its proper execution the success of the crop largely depends. The distance 

 between the beets in the row should depend upon the quality of the soil, as on rich, 

 moist soil they will thrive if left much thicker than on a poor, dry soil. If planted in 

 extra wide rows to facilitate horse culture, they may be left closer in the rows than 



A FIELD OF BEETS AT THE CORNELL STATION. 



The rolling lauds and rich soils of central and western New York produce heavy yields of rich 

 beets, fairly rivaling California. 



otherwise. If the rows are 18 to 20 inches apart the beets should ordinarily be thinned 

 to eight to 10 inches in the rows. The first operation of thinning is done with a common 

 hoe, having a blade five to seven inches wide, according to the distance apart it is desired 

 to have the beets stand when the work is complete. When the beets are well started, and 

 usually immediately after the second cultivation, pass along the rows and with the hoe 

 strike out portions the widtn of the hoe blade, leaving bunches of two or three inches 

 containing several plants. This operation is called bunching and results in the removal 

 of the weeds in the row and the stirring of the soil as well as the removal of most of the 

 surplus plants. Shortly after the bunching the plants remaining are reduced to one in 



