122 The Sugar-Beet in America 
60.3 per cent perfect, 17.2 tons; and when but 29.6 per 
cent perfect, 10.3 tons to the acre. 
In addition to the losses in stand due to poor cultural 
methods, there were losses caused by imperfect germination 
which might be attributed to the following causes: poor 
preparation of seed-bed, imperfect operation of seed drills, 
late frosts, damping-off disease, blowing of light sandy 
soils, flea-beetles, cutworms, and wireworms. 
Losses due to delayed thinning are shown from the 
following yields obtained in Germany : 
Time or THINNING Yietp— Tons |Loss at $5 a Ton 
At proper time . ..... 15.0 $— 
One week later . . . . . 13.5 $ 7.50 
Two weeks later . .... 10.0 $25.00 
Three weeks later . . . . . 7.0 $40.00 
HOEING 
Two hoeings by hand are usually required; three are 
sometimes necessary. This is the chief item of expense 
after thinning and topping. Much depends on hoeing 
at the proper time in order that weeds do not get started 
and take the nourishment and moisture that are needed 
by the young beet plant. It is likewise important that 
the hoeing be thorough. This is much more important 
for sugar-beets than for a crop like corn that grows rapidly 
and soon shades the weeds. In the beet field it is the weeds 
that do the shading. Hoeing is often contracted in con- 
nection with thinning. This is very satisfactory since it 
