Sugar-Beet Cnliivalion in A ttylriK. 
Ml 
circuinstancos the steeping of the seed in water is dispensed 
with, but occasionally the steeping of the seed for twelve hours 
in water at a temperature of 120° Fahr. advances the growth of 
the plant. 
The quantity of seed sown rises to as much as 31 lb. per 
acre. It is only by this liberal use of seed that a sufficiently 
close crop can be assured, especially under unfavourable con- 
ditions as to weather, &c. 
The distances between the drills and between each plant 
are regulated according to the various agricultural conditions 
in which the land may be. The better the soil the closer the 
roots may be grown. If grown too far apart on good land, 
the beet roots become larger, but remain poor in sugar ; and, on 
the other hand, planted too near each other, the roots get rich 
in sugar, but remain small, and the value of the produce in 
either case is less than when both extremes are avoided. 
Fifteen years ago the usual width between the rows was 
sixteen inches. Some estates in Austria tried for a few seasons 
fifteen inches and then fourteen inches ; but neai'ly all have 
eventually returned to fifteen or sixteen inches, which is the 
width generally adopted. With this distance, the roots may be 
separated from each other by about eight inches in the rows. 
For the sowing of the seed, specially designed drills are 
customarily used ; but any drill that will deliver the seed 
regularly and in sufficient quantity will answer every pur- 
pose. The seed is either drilled in lines, or is dibbled. Machines, 
too, are used, though not so commonly, that distribute a"t the 
same time pulverised artificial manures ; but these are being dis- 
carded in favour of broad-casting machines. The seed should be 
covered to the depth of from half an inch to one and a half inch, 
according to the condition of the soil. If the soil be moist and in 
good condition, the seed should not be covered more than half 
an inch. If, on the other hand, the soil be very dry, it 
should be covered to the depth of one and a half inch. After 
the sowing, a Cambridge roller is passed over the field. 
Cultivation. 
As soon as the plants are large enough to show in the rows, 
cultivation with the horse or hand hoe should be commenced. 
A good deal of the hoeing is done by hand ; but there is a 
great variety of hoeing-machines in the market, from the simple 
and primitive implement shown in Fig. 4 to the highly elaborate 
compound machines sent out from the works of such makers as 
Clayton and Shuttleworth at Vienna, Rudolph Sack of Leipzig, 
