HENDERSON'S AMERICAN FARMER'S MANUAL. 



21 



■WHITE SUGAB BEET. 



* SUGSRt BEET,# 



HE culture of Sugar Beet in the United States, and its manufacture into sugar, has long since 

 passed the experimental stage. Thousands of acres are now grown, yielding a handsome profit, 

 and its manufacture is a thriving industry. 



To the farmer it is unequalled as a plant producing a large amount of cheap and useful food for 

 farm animals, and it is of special value to dairy farmers. They are not such heavy yielders as 

 Mangel Wurzel, but are of a superior quality, containing a larger amount of saccharine matter. Stored 

 in pits or cellars they will keep throughout the entire winter and prove a valuable and succulent winter 

 feed, increasing both the quantity and quality of the milk. 

 For stock-feeding, Sugar Beets may be grown in any section of the United States or Canada, and in general 

 it may be said that any soil which will produce a good crop of Corn, "Wheat or Potatoes will, under proper cul- 

 tivation, produce a good crop of Sugar Beets. It is imperative that the land be well drained, however, and it 

 would be useless to attempt to raise Sugar Beets on land without good natural or other drainage. 



"While for stock-feeding they can be grown in any section, the Central, "Western and Eastern States are the 

 ones in which they can be most profitably grown for Sugar-making, the climatic conditions in these 

 States being favorable to the production of sugar. 



"While New York and adjacent States are well suited to the pro- 

 duction of Beets rich in saccharine matter, and their cultivation has 

 been attended with encouraging results, so that the outlook for its 

 general cultivation in these States as a source of sugar is bright, they 

 reach their highest state of perfection in Nebraska and adjoining States. 



Sugar Beets of the highest standard have been grown in New York and ]S T ew Jersey, and a 

 number of farmers and capitalists are already interested, the result of which is likely to be the 

 building of Beet Sugar factories requiring a large annual supply of roots. 



"We would, therefore, advise every farmer to commence their cultivation at once. Notliin^ 

 pay better for stock-feeding, and he will gain experience in their culture and treatment so that when 

 the demand arises for sugar-making purposes he will be ready to take up their extended culture 

 intelligently. 



Climatic conditions have a very important influence upon its value for sugar production. A 

 medium temperature, averaging from 65 to 70 degrees during the summer months, and a clear, rather 

 cool autumn, will be found most favorable to the development of the crop. "Where such conditions 

 prevail, and the soil is favorable, the Sugar Beet will attain its highest development and yield hand- 

 some profits. 



Beets do best after "Wheat or some other grain crop, because, the crop being harvested early, the 

 ground can be plowed in the fall — a prerequisite to successful Beet culture. Manure, especially if 

 not thoroughly rotted, should be applied to the previous crop, or the Beets should be raised in rotation 

 as the second or even third crop. 



The seed should be sown from about the 10th of May until the 1st of June. After the latter date 

 is too late, as they would not have time to mature before frost. Cultivation has a very marked effect upon 

 the quantity and quality of the crop, but the nature of the seed is, after all, the main factor. Very good 



seed never produces an altogether bad crop, 

 5*-^<s 0*/ [j ^Cr^/r^ 8 ^ while inferior seed cannot be brought, by any 



amount of skill in cultivation, to give a per- 

 fectly satisfactory result. Manuring is also 

 an important point; mineral and chemical 

 manures should be largely used, while heavy 

 doses of nitrogen must be avoided. 

 There are a number of varieties, but those we offer 

 are the best in each class. 



LASES IMPERIAL SUGAB BEET. 



Sow at the rate of 12 to 15 lbs. per acre. Average yield, 20 to 25 tons per acre. 



LANE'S IMPERIAL.— An improved variety 

 of the French Sugar Beet, obtained by care- 

 ful selection in this country, and recom- 

 mended as being hardier and more produc- 

 tive. (Seecut.) 40cts. lb.; in lots of 10 lbs., 35 

 cts.lb.;1001bs.,30cts.lb. 



"WHITE. — Attains a large size, and is exten- 

 sively grown for feeding ; largely cultivated 

 in France for the manufacture of sugar. (See 

 cut.) 35 cts. lb. ; in lots of 10 lbs., 30 cts. lb. ; 

 100 lbs , 25 cts. lb. 



VILMORIN'S IMPROVED WHITE. — A 



greatly improved variety of the preceding, 

 obtained by over 20 years' continued and 

 systematic selection. The proportion of 

 sugar in the roots, under ordinary circum- 

 stances, amounts to 18 to 20 per cent., while 

 in other varieties the usual average is 12 to 

 15 per cent. Has yielded 30 tons and over 

 per acre, and is unequaled for feeding cows 

 and young stock. (See cut.) 55 cts. lb. ; in 

 lots of 10 lbs., 50 cts. lb. ; 100 lbs., 45 cts. lb. 



vtlmokin's improved white sugar beet. 



We hold large stocks of these Sugar Beets and are prepared to give SPECIAL (^UOTATIOXS 



to buyers of LARdJE quantities, 



