THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 91 
6 inches, and should then cease, as the beets are ready to lay by. Besides destroying 
the weeds, this repeated cultivation prevents evaporation from the deeper soil, and 
secures a good and healthy growth. Never hill the beets, as level land keeps the 
moisture best. 
Keep the horse cultivator going whenever weeds appear, or a crust forms, until 
the beets have grown so large as to prevent this work, when they may be “‘ laid by.’’ 
In Utah and California, four cultivations and one hand hoeing, besides one spacing 
and thinning, isall the crop requires, but in Nebraska winds and drouth may necessi- 
tate more work on the crop. Frequent stirring to a depth of two or three inches is 
one of the best means of preventing loss of moisture from below during a dry spell. 
This point canuot be too carefully observed whenever a drouth threatens, and if this 
cultivation is well and frequently done, the crop will stand quite a severe drouth 
without much injury, if the ground was previously prepared as described on Page 83. 
Hoeing has been rendered more effective and less expensive by the use of the 
various horse hoes and cultivators illustrated, but the use of these machines is to be 
supplemented in the field with the hand hoe. Great care must be exercised in using 
any cultivating machine, for if the setting up and use be not carefully looked after, 
the weeds will not be extirpated, while-whole rows of beets may be cut down. Fre- 
quent hoeing and cultivating cannot be too highly recommended, for, as they say in 
Germany, ‘‘sugar is hoed into the beets.’’ In Knauer’s experience (Germany) a plot 
hoed once yielded 7 tons of beets per acre, twice gave 8 tons, three times gave 10% 
tons, four times gave 123 tons, while a field hoed five times yielded over 13 tons of 
dressed beets per acre, thus doubling the yield over the plot hoed only once. 
It will be seen from the foregoing that flat culture and rows is the universal rule 
at present in America. Mr Lewis 8. Ware, editor of The Sugar Beet, states in that 
paper for January ’97, illustrating a French machine for harvesting beets in hills: 
‘*We have on many previous occasions urged that hill cultivation should be given a 
fair trial; it enables the tiller to get from beets most satisfactory results. The objec- 
tion, evidently, is that special agriculturalimplements are needed. In Europe, the 
rows on hills are either single or double; when single, the harvesting with ordinary 
plow may give good results, but it is very much more expensive than it would be 
with a special double row harvester. When in singie rows on hills the distance be- 
tween rows is 214to 284 inches; when in double rows on hills the distance is 9 to 11 
inches, while the hills are at distances which vary from 27 to 31 inches. There can 
be no doubt as regards the yield in hill cultivation; it is equal and, in many cases, 
is superior to flat cultivation, as the roots in growing find less resistance to overcome 
and have their plant food within easy reach, and through the soil there is a better 
circulation of air; furthermore, there need be no evil effects from badly drained or 
damp soils which, under ordinary conditions, are almost worthless.’’ 
This point is worthy the attention of American growers, though the fact that flat 
culture and drills have thus far been universal, indicates that they are generally satis- 
factory. One thing is certain, that hilling shouid not be practiced on dry and warm 
soils, for there it can only work harm. Hilling up may be of benefit on cold and wet 
soils, but these are properly treated by drainage. Of course if the soil gets washed 
