Staunton Spectator, And General Advertiser

THE CULTURE OF BEETS.

From the American Farmer

Among the duties which we have assigned to ourselves, has been that of enforcing upon our agricultural readers the propriety of paying attention to the culture of root crops, for the purpose of feeding their cattle through the fall, winter and spring, and it has not been without emotions of unaffected pleasure, that we have learned that our advice has not been lost upon those to whom it has been addressed. We have ever considered it alike the duty and interest of the husbandman, to provide liberal supplies of succulent provender for his stock, and especially for his milch cows; and so far as the latter are concerned, there is no truth more uncontrovertible, than that without a generous allowance of such food they cannot be kept profitably to their milk during the winter months, as milk cannot be secreted, to any extent, unless the substance on which the cow may feed be of a character at once juicy and rich. One might as well think of converting iron into gold, by the agency of the blow-pipe and the crucible, as to expect that his cow can extract milk and cream from dry corn blades and tops, or hay. If she support life with tolerable appearance of health and vigor, by the most liberal allowance of any of these, it is as much as her owner can reasonably expect.

We would ask the experienced farmer, who may have from ten to a dozen cows at the pail through the winter, which are thus fed, whether it is not quite as much as his lady can do, with all her care, skill and application to the duties of the dairy, to furnish butter and cream enough for his table? Why is this the case? It is because the cows have been fed upon dry feed. These same cows, we affirm, if fed fully upon root slops, would yield not only an ample supply for home use, but a considerable quantity of butter for market; and that, instead of not defraying their own expenses through the winter, they would be a source of profit.--If this view of the case be correct, and we honestly believe it is, we would ask, in all modesty, is it not time that our farmers, one and all, should attend to this branch of domestic economy? We say it is time, and under that impression, we shall proceed to call their attention to the propriety of making preparation during the present fall, for putting in a crop of beets next spring. To us it is immaterial whether the variety be SUGAR BEET or MANGEL WURTZEL; for they are alike nutritive and productive. All we ask is, that either the one or the other kind be put in, in the proportion of one acre for every ten head of stock; and in order that each and all may not say that he is not acquainted with the mode of culture, we shall lay down a precise and accurate plan for them to carry out. Let us begin then, with the

CHOICE OF SOIL.

The most suitable soils for the culture of the beet, are, first, a deep clay mould, well charged with vegetable matter, sufficiently friable to not be subject to baking: secondly, a sandy loam, moderately intermixed with clay; and also charged with vegetable matter: thirdly, alluvial or other rich bottoms: fourthly, any soil that is neither an impenetrable clay, or drifting sand, which may be naturally strong and well charged with vegetable remains, will answer, so that they are not too adhesive for the penetration of the roots, and sufficiently so to receive and hold moisture. Clover-leys and grass-swards should be avoided.

PREPARATION OF THE SOIL.

Any ground which may be destined for beets next spring, should be ploughed up this fall, and, if practicable, receive a second ploughing through the winter. Previous to the second ploughing, let twenty double horse cart loads of stable or barn-yard manure be spread thereon and ploughed in: the deeper the plough penetrate the earth the better. In the spring, from the 15th April to the 1st of May, in the Middle and Western States--from the 1st of March to the 1st of April, in the Southern states, let the ground be again ploughed and thoroughly harrowed and rolled. We have prescribed three ploughings as the best method of preparation; and so it is, as the better the ground be pulverized, the larger will be the yield of roots, and more luxuriant that of the leaves; but three ploughings are not indispensably necessary: two, or even one, where convenience may not suit to give more, will answer: we have known an excellent yield from one ploughing alone. But whether there be one, two or three ploughings, the ground should be ploughed deep and thoroughly pulverized; without fine tilth no root will yield well. Immediately after the ground is ready the seed must be

SOWN.

SELECTION OF, AND PUTTING IN, THE SEED

We need not say that care should be taken to get good seed, as every agriculturist knows that his success will greatly depend upon his choice of good seed. But to guard against mishaps of the kind, we would advise every farmer, who may once chance to get the genuine article, to reserve a sufficient number of roots for seed, taking care to select such as are largest and least deformed by straggling branches. Each root thus selected, if planted out in the spring, in good rich earth, with a southern exposure, and kept free of weeds, will yield from 1-4 to 1-2 a pound of seed, the which, if kept dry, will keep for four years. Under the previous head we have treated of the preparation of the ground, and it is our purpose to speak of the mode of

PUTTING IN THE SEED.

The ground having been previously ploughed, harrowed and rolled, stretch a line across it from north to south; that done, trace a series of slight drills, two feet apart, along the line, either with a small drill hoe, or the point of a stick, about one inch deep. As your drills are made, let a person drop in the beet seed about six inches asunder, cover with a garden hoe, taking care to press down the earth with the back of your instrument as you cover the seed. If you have no drilling machine to put your seed in with, a tolerable substitute may be found in a glass bottle: the mode of using it is, to fill it about half full of seed, and seizing it by the middle shake it as you go up the drill, taking care to hold the mouth of the bottle near to, and immediately over, the drill, giving the bottle a shake at each space of six inches. An industrious man, who has the knack of shaking the bottle, may thus put in and cover an acre a day. Every one, however, who calculates upon