SUGAR-BEET. 195 



slight covering of compost, ashes, plaster, or lime 

 the spring they were planted in beets. A very rich 

 soil, such as the deep alluvial bottoms of the West, 

 is not so proper ; the roots grow too large and rank 

 in it, and are consequently coarser and less nutri- 

 tious, and do not abound with near the saccharine 

 matter that is found in those grown on poorer ground 



Plough deep, and roll and harrow fine, and have the 

 ground in lands of about one rod wide, with the fur- 

 rows between them well hoed out, so as to drain 

 the falling water off, especially if the subsoil be at 

 all tenacious, as most of the Western lands usually 

 are. 



The seed and its preparation. — The white Silesiau 

 sugar-beet is the best variety, being sweetest, the 

 finest grained, and growing the largest. Soak the 

 seed at least two days previous to planting in soft 

 tepid water, and then roll it in plaster or ashes so as 

 to pi-event its sticking together. It is indispensable 

 that the seed be well soaked ; otherwise, owing to 

 its outward coating, the pericarp, being very hard, 

 it may not vegetate at all, or so late as to make a 

 fair crop out of the question. I have frequently had 

 it in soak a whole week, and sowed the seed when 

 already well sprouted ; and, though followed by long 

 heavy rains, they were the quickest up, and gave 

 the largest produce. The first and second weeks in 

 May are the most proper time to plant in this lati- 

 tude : farther north or south, of course later or ear- 

 lier, according to climate. 



Planting. — It can be sown broadcast like the tur- 

 nip ; but, as weeds are likely to spring up in most 

 soils and prevent its growth, and the labour of ex- 

 terminating them is much greater in this way, it is 

 preferable to sow in drills. For this purpose, the 

 drill-barrow maj' be used the same as in planting 

 the ruta-baga ; but the beet seed is much more diffi- 

 cult to deliver evenly through a small aperture than 

 the turnip, and, though I have used a great variety 



