THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 123 
June abuut Aalf the crop was cut off by drifting sand, or buried out of sight; what 
was saved yie.led about six tons to the acre. While this was a very light crop, we 
felt encouraged to try again. At first we did our own hoeing and thinning, but have 
since had Germau-Russians to do this work; they are hy far the best and cheapest 
labor. The following spring, we contracted to put in 40 acres. The soil 1s a slightly 
sandy bottom land, jast sandy enough to work nicely, with a good clay subsoil. The 
field planted in ’95 had been a timothy meadow for about 12 years previous to plow- 
ing for beets. We plowed six or seven inches deep, following in the fall with a sub- 
soil plow, going to the depta of six inches more, stirring the soil thoroughly to the 
depth of twelve or thirteen inches and harrow- , 
ing each day’s plowing as it was done. For the 
seed bed, the field was gone over three or fuur 
times with a disk harrow, working the top 
thoroughly; then we took a railroad iron, put 
on eight horses and went over the ground until 
it was perfectly smooth. This smoothing iron 
is illustrated herewith and I like it better than 
a harrow, as it packs the soil better and makes 
a splendid, fine, seed bed, without which it is 
of but little use to plant beets. Preparation of 
“SMOOTHER” FOR BEET LAND, MADE OF A 
RAILROAD RAIL. 
This leveler is 28 ft long and bent slightly 
in the middle so that it will not turn over—a 
curve of say 2ft in the length of the iron. 
The horses are hitched far enough from the 
ends so that the draft of the teams will make 
the iron plow level. Hitech the horses so 
that the curve is to the front as portrayed 
above. If the curve is to the rear, the iron 
will dip in the middle and the ends draw up 
and it will not work satisfactorily. 
the soil is the main point; you cannot get the seedbed too good. One great thing is 
not working the top too fine. In this preparation, most of the work van be done with 
a disk harrow, as it does not crush all of the small clods, thus preventing blowing and 
cutting off by the fine dirt and sand that is driven over a field that has been so thor- 
oughly worked. Planting was begun May 1 and finished May 25. A little re-plant- 
ing was done June 10. A good stand has never failed us if the ground is in perfect 
shape at the time of planting. Planting is but little trouble, the seed being put in 
from $to % of an inch deep and covered with a moist soil. The Jewell planter was used 
last year with good success. We never use flat shovels in cultivation, preferring the 
goose-foot shovels, which we like much the best. Thinning is begun when the plants 
are two inches high. We bunch thin and clean all of the small weeds out at one time 
and are particular that this work is well done. Cultivation is kept up every week or 
ten days as long as we can get through them; in all, about five times. 
‘In 1895 the mode of work was changed but little from that of the preceding 
year. We were a little more careful as to details. Pains are taken that all weeds 
are killed before planting. Plant as soon as the soil is ready. Do not let it lay three 
or four days after it is ready to plant, as the weeds get just that much of a start. We. 
think if we get our crop started right, future cultivation is easy. During the sum- 
mer of ’95, most of our crop was irrigated the latter part of July or early August. 
Trrigation is what saved our crop from testing low, as they grew and ripened. When 
the late rains came in the fall,they did not take ona second growth but retained 
their ripeness and sugar. Out of 56 carloads shipped to the factory, only four loads 
went below 12 per cent sugar and 80 per cent purity. Last year we did not irrigate, 
but I believe it will pay as arule. Our beets were not as good last year as in ’95; 
the early part of the season was too wet. The ground on which the ’95 crop was. 
