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Un des symboles suivants apparaftra sur la derniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ^ signlfio "A SUIVRE". le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmfo ft des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clich*, II est fllm« « partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n«cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. 1 D 32 X 5 traCIAL BULLITIN TOROMTO, APRIL, 1900. ONTARIO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND EXPERIMENTAL FARM. THE CULTIVATION OF SUGAR BEETS. IJY a. K. Sill TTI.EWORTll, IJ.A.SC, I'll. I)., rKOKKSSoK nV ClIKMISTKY. INTRODUCTION. Sugar beets for cattle feed can be grown probably in any part of Ontorio ; bat owing to favorable climatic conditions, they can be grown for the prodaotion of sugar more profitably in certain portions or sections than in others. Exper- ience in counties where thn sugar beet is extensively grown shows that it attains its greatest perfection where the temperature for the months of May, June, and July has a mean of 70° F. A line running trom Sarnia in a southeasterly direction to St. Thomas and then carving graduaMy in a northeasterly direction through the counties of Nor- folk and Haldimand to the city of Hamilton would locate the northern boundary of the United States theoretical beet-sugar belt passing through Ont»rio. The section of Ontario to the south of this line, comprising Essex, Kent, Bothwell, Elgin, Welland, Lincoln and the southern portions of Lambton, Middlesex, Nor- folk, Haldimand at.d Wentworth, possesaos favorable climatic, and, for the most part, soil conditions for the highest development of the sugar beet. It is not to be understood however, that there are no other sections in Ontario where sugar beets can be grown for sugar production. Temperatu.-e and length of season both north and east are more or less influenced by the lakes ; consequently, in sections where land can be cultivated for planting by the 1st of May and where favorable beet harvesting weather can be depended upon throash October and the early part of November, beets may be produced as sue- cessfoily as within the above named section. To grow sugar beets with a high content of sugar and a paying tonnage, which are requisites of the beet sugar industry, requires a high degree of agri- cultural skill. It is indeed a great mistake to suppose that because a farmer « -1^ .... — ,^-- >ro- may be able to grow sagaf buots fcr feed, u6 _ daction. The former means bulk, waile the latter means quality and bulk. To produce quality, ».«., a high content of sugar, requires knowledge,* experience, and skill. By a very little difference in the soil, in the cultivation, in the kinds and the qaantitf of manara, in the thlnnlnff, Ao., • very grMt differenoe In fhe ■ugAr oontent of the beeti mmj reenlt. The nanal methods of onltivation and manuring practiaed to prodnoe a big crop of tamipa, potatoee, Ac, applied to the caltivation of lugar beeta would prodnoe an nnprofitable crop for factory purposes In every country where beet sugar industries are established, is has required from two to three jears' practice before the farmers have been able to grow beets containioc satisfactory percentages of sugar. Past analyses of sugar beets grown in Ontario have shown that fully one- third of each year's crop contains less than 12 per cent, of sugar, a percentage too low for factory use. It would indeed be a serious matter to both the farmer and the factory should one-third of the total crop grown for a factory contain only 12 per cent, or leas than 12 per cent of sugar. To avoid such a misfortune small plots of sugar beets should be grown according to definite instruotioas where a factory is likely to be establiihed. Such an experiment would be an object lesson not alone to those growing the beets but more or less to all farmers in the neighborhood, and by the analysee of the beets valuable data regarding the fertility and the requirements of the soil of different farms and sections would be collected. In this way the farmers would learn quickly and inexpensively to produce crops of beets of high tonnage knd rich in sugar. Restitution to the soil of the constituents remov^ has to be considered in good farming more or less for all crops, and especially for any root crop. The impression prevails that sugar beets are particularly hard upon soil and will in time impoverish land. This is not necessarily true with sugar beets any more than with other root crops. Twelve tons of sugar beets, not including tops, re- moved from the soil 79.2 lbs. potash, 19.2 lbs. phosphoric acid, and 38.4 lbs. nit- rogen, while an equal weight of turnips removes 48, 14 4 and 62.8 lbs. respectively of potash, phosphoric acid, and nitrogen. The comparison does not, except in the constituent potash, show that beets are more exhaustive than turnips. The tops of the twelve tons of beets contain 156 lbs. potash, 31.2 lbs. phosphoric aoid, and 93.6 lbs. of nitrogen. This fact, however, is true of all root crops, viz , that the tops contain large quantities of ash constituents. A strictly scientific method of cultivation considers the available fertility already in the soil and supplies, less that in the soil, all that the crop requires In the cultivation of sugar for factory purpdses, since a high content of sugar as well as a high ton- nage is required, particular attention must be given to the form in which the manure is applied and to the i-ektive quantities of the several ash constituents. An unproportional amount of nitrogen, for example, will prevent the formation of sugar, yielding, it may be, a high tonnage, but an unprofitable crop for sugar production. In Germany, where the -^ugar beet is a staple crop, it occupies a position in the crop rotations between fall rye or winter wheat and a spring cereal crop, usually wheat or barley. By many large farmers the sugar beet is the money produoing crop, while the other crops and the live stock are regarded as auxil- iaries to it A sugar beet farmer is also a dairy farmer who keeps from 60 to 100 m'Jch cows per 600 to 800 acres of land. The sugar beet pulp, especially when fed along with sugar beet tops, is an excellent food for dah7 stock, and tYttk larOA nnfcnf.itiaa nf ut.rmL^ omnvrn t%rt nnttjk^ ^.aaf #«>».> ».-».J >- '-• *4 > -- Q— -2"*— —*'——"- — — -s*^" JJ-^^— ** -^i» w^fc^Ti ^rmv zctttlla mjut i CU3 mUUCZ* BUIU SIS bedding, furnish manure which is applied to the land for the winter rye or wheat which preceded sugar beets. In a word, live stock a&d grain growing are usually combined with and auxiliary to sugar beet cultivation. The kin tion. Alme migarbeeta. may be growi Whatever kii should the sv best in a wai and moist. < require under also lato in tl to grow and i tent A soil cultivation pi In propc reduced grow but in propoi available, the then, can be form and qua important coi aoid, pot aih a Phoapho quickens gen lessening the increases the high and com Nirtogei inorganic, as but by the in especially so, the nitrogen. Althoug] to the exact c apply, it is ki ment of sugsi It is unl] any manurial their can be i will determin coDstitu3nts t beets. A ma ate the qualit form in wbioi important qu manure requi Soil. The kind of Mil laitable for augftr beets ii of leei importance thftn oaltiva- tion. Almost any soil bj proper cnltiTation in a suitable climate will grow ■agar beets. This crop does not require a particular kind of soil. Good crops may be grown upon day, loam, s»nd, or even prairie soil with proper cultivation. Whatever kind the soil may be It must not, however, be wf t oor cold, neither should the subsoil be hard and impervious to air and moisture. The beet does b«st in a warm moist soil having an open subsoil which is also naturally warm and inoist. Olay soilr, which have a high retentive power for moisture, usually require underdraining. To be able to get upon the land early in the spring and also late in the fall, is of great importance, for the beet requires sufficient time to grow and mature in order to produce both high tonnage and large sugar con- tent A soil capable of producing a good crop of potatoes will yield with proper cultivation paying crops of sugar bsets. Manubi. In proportion to a deficiency of nourishment in the soil and a consequent reduced growth, the quality of the sogar beet for factory purposes deteriorates ; but in proportion to the degree to which proper and sufficient nourishment is available, the quantity and quality of the sugar beet improve. The best rf salts, then, can be produced only when there are available to the plant in the right form and quantity in the presence of other required conditions, the four most inaportsnt constituents in the nourishment of beets, viz', nitrogen, phosphoric soid,jpolaih and lime. Phosphoric acid in the form of water soluble, as in superphosphates, qaickens germination and tffects a r*pid growth of the young plant, thereby lessening the probability of injury by insects and disease. Phosphoric acid also increases the yield and hastens early maturity, making the sugar percentage high and consequently the crop of increased value to a factory. Nirtogen both organic, as in decaying animal and vegetable matter, and inorganic, as in nitrate of soda, sulphatj of ammonia, dearly increases the yield; but by the improper use of nitrogen the quality of the beet is distinctly injured, especially so, when a correspondiog amount of phosphoric add is not used with the nitrogen. Although there are no definite conclusions from experiments conducted as to the exact effects of potash and as to the most suitable form of potash salt to apply, it is known to be an essectial and important constituent in the nourish- ment of sugar beets. It is only when all the other required elements of fertility are present that any mannrial constituent or combination of constituents has any value; therefore, their can be no normal manure for sugar beets. An actual experiment alone will determine for a particular location or soil the constituent or combination of constitu3nts that may be usel to the best advantage in the cultivation of sugar beets. A manure calculated to give the best results upon one soil, may depreci- ate the quality of the beets on other soil. What a soil already contains and the form in which its elements essential to the normal growth of the beet exist, are important questions which require answering before the kind and quantity of manure required by a partionlar soil oan be prescribed. In no oaie li it a safe prMtioe to apply Urmjtad manare to lamr beeto in iS^fn' T"r"°*'/ ^^'l'"" ''•" ""-"'^ *«> »«*• "d open wdThryoung plant! will suffer from drouth. A wet period may follow thV drv ■ndl ihloh circnm^ance, owing to the iate fermentation of the mZ^J^^ develop A^wh wd produoe. a heavy crop bat of inferior quality. The Uter the JeooS S^J farther .fiords favorable conditions for the operation of insects that are enemies Fio. ] .—Correct position of a mature beet in the loU. DLdSDoTthrlr^'f'' i"^"" cultivation difficalt, prodaces rooty beets, and f/!«^ i Pf"*' *? ^"^'^- " • ^'«°<> application of farm yid maiure. hit ttHb? '"■'^^'^ '^\l'r'''"' '•" " *^« P~P«' **"«. ^^^ even applied a £^lvS^Ur^^T "^"""'^ f ' °""* V"^ decomposed. It is better. hJwever. «^nnUmWl?i "* "t""^ 1° * preceding crop. The residue of this manure aupplemented by purchased fertilizer., will furnish the be.t fertility for the Thb, Position of Sugar Bbbts iw a Rotation. and 'aZa^^^^J^^^^Tu "'^J* *° ''^»°*» farm.yard manure has been applied, and should be followed by wheat, barley or oata It most be remembered thst ragur beau ahoald never follow oet«. The followinc ia m niiUble rota tion : " 1. Hey. 2. Winter wheat, poUtces, or fodder com. 3. Sagur beete. 4 Spring wheat, barley, or oetn, seeded. Fall Oultitation. Fig 1, showing the proper poait'on of the beet at mattfritv in the soU, indi- rates the great depth to which (he taproot penetrates. Thia penetration of the Eoil la of the greateat importance in aecaring a ateady growth of plant and a high percentage of augar. Mteting impervioas aobaoil drflecta the taproot, developa lateral roota, and lifta the beet more or lesa ont of the ground, all of which tend to leasen the percentage of angar. : *i' ^*i^^^ follow fall wheat, the land may be plowed ahallow, jaat cover- ing the Btttbblea. as early after the wheat is harveated aa poaaible and harrowed, caaaing the vegetable matter to decay acd seeda to germinate. Late in aatamn, Fia. 2.— SubMil plow. 4 croaa-plow to a depth of nine inches, following in each fnrrow with a aabsoil plow (Fig. 2), loosening (not taming np) the soil several inuhea deeper. Leave the land, thna plowed and loosened, to the winter frost, which through alternate expatswn and contraction, becomes didntegrated and mellowed. Bat in oase potatoes or fodder corn precede the beets, early autumn cultivation of the potato jround should not be necessary, while that of the corn land may be modiaed for tbe purpose of disposing of the corn roots. Late deep plowing is an essential part, however, of full cultivation for sugar beets on any soil ; but anbaoiling. aa above described, may be ommitted in exceptional instances where the subsoil is naturally free and open. Jn oase it has not been practicable to apply farmyard manure to the erop preceding sugar beets, then the manure should be drawn out upon the stvbble I •St "** J"*' «<>▼•«<> by the Mrly Miumn aludlow plowing whioh to menUoned Spkimg Cultitatioh Airo Plamting. PJant M early m olimate and mil wUl aUow. In that area, previouly mentioned, where ragar beeta may be expected to do well, plant not later than May lit. Early planted beets, ai experience in other conntriei hw ihown, ani. form y give both a greater yield and a higher content of lagar than those which are planted later. Spring oaltivaUon for planting must be shaUow, the object being to prepare a seed bed whose loil is reduced to the highest degree of tilth, resembling the surface soU of a well prepared onion bed. The exact method of working the land to attain this object will vary in difftrent locations and loils aa soils ^em J ^? •J°^^«»'ne»' ▼•»y- For every soil, however, loosening the vurface to a depth of three inches is an essential operation, after which, by the proper uce at the right time, of the roller and hatrow, a seed-bed. which is mellow, firm, moist and warm, can with litUe difficulty be prepared. The seed should be planted upon the same day, or as early after as possible, as the final preparation of the seed bed. Before nlanting and while preparing the seed-bed, commercial ferti lisers containing the constituents phosphoric acid and potash, should be sown broadcast and wotked into the soU of the seedbed in its preparation. Hard- wood ashes and superphosphate of lime (water soluble phosphate) may be used to furnish the above constituents. The quanUtiee reqnired, since soils vary in fertility and fertilisers in composition, may differ for every soil. Fifteen tons uL ? I *''®*' ^^ require JOO lbs. potash, 60 lbs. phosphoric acid, and 155 lbs. of nitrogen. These figures may form the best basis for calculating the required quantities of fertUisers to be used in addition to the manure or residue or manure already in the soU. Nitrogen, which may be needed over and above tbat in the manure, can to advantage be applied in the form of a soluble salt as a top dressing after the plants are thinned. Lime, which may be obtained from suj^r beet factories as a bye-produot free, is essential in soils growing sugar Siu). The choice of seed is a matter of very great importance. Under no con- sideration should sn inferior variety or quality of seed be sown. Owing to the many good varieties of sugar beets, arising chiefly from selection and culture, it to not easy to name all. The Vilmorin Improved (Fig. 3) and the Kleinwanele- bener (Fig. 4) have been the most widely grown in America. it. u ^ii®u **** **" ®' *^* "eed-bed has been reduced to a finely divided condition, it should be compressed by rolling, and upon the same day the seeds may be planted to a depth of one inch. Planting, therefore, is upon the flat, done either by hand or by drill at the rate of 16 pounds of seed per acre. The best results in root and sugar content are obtained by a dis- tance of 21 inches between the driUs. and seven inches between the plants in the drill. At these distances, the ground becomes completely covered with the "--'»3», - -^mmIbIos ttuxuu 13 rwjr OTssauai co a pJi^yiDg percentage of sogar. After planting, the land should be harrowed once lengthwise with the planting with light ■ In from ten minated. As sooi soil bttweeu mototure, to most rapid | Fio. 8.-Whit« by band, but young plants therefore, a si disturbed by After th( development < finished as soc bat the hands young selectee During tl arrived for a s in the first cal wit^light Med h»m>ws, for the parpoie, ohiefly. of preeerring the loil moisture. . Cdltivatioh ok Bmts BiroRt TniMifiifo. «n if*' '^^l^ ^^''mP''^'* ?V*.**® '"°*<* *° *•»« ">''• "''•«» cultivation of the «lt„ *!° 5* ^." . '^""''i *^ oommenoed. to clean the land and preMrve moietore, to admit air more freely into the loU. and in every way to haaten the met rapid growth of the young plants. This cultivation may be accomplished t F.a. 3.-White Improved Vilmor!. 8,.?.r Beet Fio. 4.-Kleinw«zlebener Sugar Beet. vL^„?n; **^' ""'^ "^^'"^^^ ^'. ' H"^ ^°«- ^' '''»°''l'> ^ remembered that the Z^Ul r Ti^.'^J"'*^. "'her by a covering of earth or by being loosenS : dttuis i;z tV'^zzT '^'^ '' ''' ^'"'' *^ '^^ ^"" -^-'^ -' »>^ Thinniho. After the first cultivation, the young nlants grow rapidly when uoon th« devdopment of the 3rd or 4th leaf, thinning must be comiJeni^dTand shSSd t^ S^Sr* J!" T"* •'"^l" r^"«- "»^*°« " do"« °Wefly with a lirrow hoe! but the hands must be ako freely used in Tingling out for the reawn thit t^ young selected plante, unlike turnips, must not be*roughly handllT^ Oui/rivATioN ArriB Thinniro. »rrivS°?°* 'Wnning, the beet wUl have grown considerably, and the time having n« fiS* ' r""!^ o«lj»vation. the hand or hon» hoe maj be run deeper till m the first cultivation, in oider to open thoroughly and l6oMn the soil for the III i- - 4 - Iht' fr«e AdmlMioii of dr. A Moond luuid hoeinff aoon after floiihing th* fint ihin- nisg ia adTiMble, for the r eaio p that two or more plenti growing together injnre one another both in siie and qaality. It hai aleo the advantage of oleaningj and looaening the ground in the arilli betwr«n the planta. Brea a third and a foartk horae hoeing may he done, depending, of ooaree, apon oiroamilanoei. Every oqI- tiraUon promotee growth, improving the ohanoes for a profitable crop, bat muit never be done when the gronnd ii wet. Harvmtino. The right time for harveating variea with oiroamatanoea. The later it ii delayed the better, provided raflSoient fine weather remains to acoompliih the work, and provided the beet* are not in danger of a leoond growth. Both wet weather and freezing temperatores are undeeirable ; oonieqaently, it the beeti have ripened, harvesting may begin any time in October. Yellowish green color of iMif, drooping and dying leaves are indications of ripened beets. Harvesting beets is not diffionlt The beets are lobsened from the ground either with a spade like instrnment or by a machine called a beet harvester. Topping is done with a large knife held in the hand. The operation consists in removing the whole of that portion of the beet to which th^ stem of the leaves have been attached. The topped beets are thrown into piles or rows and oovered with the tops, which protect them from sun and frost till delivered at the factory.