-' 37 - 
Plow at least eight inches deep; harrow thoroughly and 
smooth the ground before planting. Fall plowing is best, 
to be again plowed in the spring before planting. Whether 
fall plowed or not, the spring plowing should be done as 
short a time as possible before planting. If possible the 
seed should be planted the same day that the ground is 
plowed so as to have the benefit of all the moisture in the 
ground for germinating the seed. If a large acreage is to 
be planted, it should be handled in sections, plowing only 
what can be planted at once. On a large acreage it is ad- 
visable to plant the ground in three sections from five to 
seven days apart, so that the thinning will come at different 
times and economize labor. 
Sugar beets can be planted from early in April until the 
last of May. In general they are planted about the same 
time as corn. They should always be sown under such con- 
ditions of warmth and moisture that the seed will germinate 
at once and the young plants show above ground within ten 
to fourteen days after planting. 
Beet seed should be sown in drills from i6 to 24 inches 
apart; most beet seeders are made for 18 inch drills. The 
seed can be sown by hand, by the common garden drill, by a 
wheat drill closing up some of the holes, or regular beet 
drills can be used that are made for the purpose and sow 
four rows at a time. Sow the seed from half an inch to an 
inch and a half deep. Sow as near the surface as it is possi- 
ble for the seed to get enough moisture to germinate. The 
earlier in the season the seed is sown, the less depth it 
should be planted. If the ground is very dry, sow near the 
surface and then irrigate up the seed by making a small fur- 
row between every other row and running a small stream of 
water until the ground has wet sideways to both rows. Re- 
member that getting a good stand is the hardest pa^t of 
sugar beet raising. 
Sow plenty of seed ; never less than fifteen pounds to 
the acre and from that to twenty pounds. 
The thinning should be most carefuby and promptly 
done, as on it depends in large measure the weight and 
quality of the crop. There is but one time to do this work, 
and that is while the plants are very young — just as soon as 
the third or fourth leaf becomes well defined and the root is 
nothing but a mere thread. If delayed the plant receives a 
setback from which it can scarcely recover. Just before 
thinning, work the ground between the rows with a hoe or 
