192 SUGAR BEET SEED. 



Sowing broadcast has now been generally aban- 

 doned for regular beet cultivation. However, when 

 transplanting is considered, this method offers special 

 advantages. During the early part of the present 

 century, Mathien, Dombosle, Gasparin, and others, 

 advocated this method, as it gives a longer period for 

 the plants' development, and we have frequently pointed 

 out this advantage. Some experience is required. The 

 transplanting should be done on a cloudy, damp 

 day; if not, the roots must be watered with a weak 

 urine solution. Several days may elapse between the 

 time the young roots are taken from the ground and 

 transplanted; it is important, however, to keep them in 

 earth, with a small quantity of salt, in a vertical jxjsi- 

 tion. A hole is made in the ground, at a position 

 determined by strings, which cross at mathematical 

 intervals. It has been proposed to use a specic^l 

 appliance known as a transplanter. 



The most simple of all methods is to make a cut 

 in the soil with a spade, and the soil is then closely 

 pressed with the foot, — or in hills made by two plows; 

 precaution must be taken to keep the neck well above 

 the surface. It is generally found desirable to cut off 

 the small, outer leaves, for these generally wilt and 

 perish after the transplanting, under which circum- 

 stances they would interfere with the healthy 

 development of the young root. The enormous yields 

 obtained by Koechlin would tend to show that there 

 may be some very practical advantage, for he obtained 

 sixty tons per acre. In this case, the seed for the same 

 were sown broadcast in January, and transplanted in 

 April. It is claimed, that under these conditions the 

 annual beets are avoided, and that the roots obtained 

 are so hardy that they can resist almost any variation 

 of temperature. It is further maintained that the extra 

 expense of the method is not as great as one might 

 suppose, for the work can be done in January or Feb- 



