336 PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE. 



by means of a dibble. This instrument is made of wood, with 

 a handle 3 feet long, a head like a rake, and from 6 to 12 teeth 

 one inch in diameter ; it is made so that it may be stamped 

 down, and the holes made an inch or two deep, about 2 inches 

 apart. A boy may then follow, and drop one seed into each 

 hole and cover with fine mould half an inch deep. They 

 should be sown the last of May. The after-culture consists 

 simply in keeping the ground clear of weeds, and of thinning 

 the plants to the distance of 8 or 10 inches. The roots 

 should be gathered as soon as they are ripe ; which may be 

 known by the under leaves becoming yellow. They may 

 be preserved in cellars, and fed out to farm stock. 



The cost of cultivating this crop, is estimated at about 

 f 30,00 per acre ; and they yield, at least 600 bushels, which, 

 allowing a fair price for them, would leave, at least $25,00 

 net profit per acre. 



2. The turnip and blood beet are cultivated in gardens, and 

 to some extent in fields. They are best cultivated in ridges; 

 that is, by throwing two furrows together, and sowing the 

 seed in double rows as above. 



3. The sugar beet, or white variety, is cultivated on a lim- 

 ited scale in this country, but it supplies France with nearly 

 all her sugar. 



This beet is a very profitable crop, and is beginning to be 

 introduced into this country. In 1841, Mr. Tudor, of Na- 

 hant, raised a crop which yielded at the rate of more than 36 

 tons to the acre, or about 1,300 bushels. The value of this 

 crop must be equal to $180,00 ; which is sufficient to pay all 

 the expense of cultivation, and leave a large profit. It should 

 be remarked, however, that the soil was put in the best possi- 

 ble condition, and in all cases, deep tillage is essential to suc- 

 cess. The juice of this beet is boiled into sugar, which 

 equals that made from sugar cane. But the chief value of 

 this variety in this country, is to feed out to farm stock. 



Carrots are beginning to be cultivated for farm stock ; 



