OCR Text |
Show THE CULTIVATION OF SUGAR BEETS That cultivation of HUgar beets, with the extensive rout systems gi own by this crop Is declared by agricultural ag-ricultural exports to bo of utmost value to tho farms of tho country, J especially when utilized In connection with other crops In rotation. Agriculturists; lploycd by the great sugar companies of the state have constantly worked toward tho '. up-bulldlng of tho agricultural division divi-sion of tho Industry. Thpy havo proven pro-ven of much assistance to tho farmers farm-ers of tho country, cooperating with thorn In every way possible. And because be-cause beet growing servos tho double benefit of Irr idlnto roturns and nl-eo nl-eo of bettered grV id condition, this assistance has been of oidded value Ono of these experts In Utah has written tho following regarding the cultivation nnd Irrigation of sugar beets: "lleet land should be plowed liv tho fnll from 10 to 12 Inches In depth which gives tho beet a better chanco to grow longer and larger and makes It easier to send Its roots down Into tho moisture. Tho land Bhould be worked down as fine as possible in the spring to give the beets a good seed bed. Tho beets should be cultivated cul-tivated junt as"noon as ono can see tho rows or Just before thinning time There aro three reasons for good cul-( cul-( tlvntlon. (1) It helps to retain tho moisture (2) It loosenB tho soil around the beet nnd makes them ? )row faBter. (3) it kills a great many weeds. "The first cultivation should not be oo deep, as It will cover up mnny of the small beets. The second nnd third cultivation should be ns deep nn possible tho deeper tho better, ns it gives tho beets a chance to send their roots out Into tho soil which they could not do It the ground Is not loosened up. ccivnv.Yrii ai-tku thinning "Thcso cultivations should be, given giv-en after tho beets aro thinned and started to grow well, ono about two weeks nfer tho other. Aftor tho I beets have becomo a good size, they should not be cultivated too deep. As ono 1b apt to cut off nnd injuro Dome of tho roots; this will retard tholr growth. They should bo cultivated cul-tivated as soon as ll is possible to get on tho land after lrrlvation. "Two or th'rce good hoolngs during tho Btimmor would help a great deal in the destruction of weeds and help maintain tho molsturo around tho beet, which is very essentia!. "Tho proper uso of irrigation water wa-ter la ono of tho most important ; things ono must consider. Tho time, flic application and tho quantity of water used. In somo localities where I there Is little winter precipitation, it ; la necessary to Irrigate beets up. Dut ' it la more Batlafactory to irrigate be fore tho seed is planted. BcctB should not bo irrigated until they are I absolutely In need of water. "Tho objecta in withholding tho ' Water as long ns possible Is to pro- Iduco long roots, Blnco long roots aro essential for good tonnage. $fy) "Beets Bhould never bo Irrigated by tho flooding method, but should bo watered In furrows between tho rowB. Flooding Is likely to scald tho beets nnd to form a crust over tho surface of tho ground, cutting off tho nlr supply and retarding tho growth of tho beet. "I havo In mind two farmers: Ono cultivated vory often arid irrigated twice during tho summer. His aver-R aver-R ago waa 18 tons per aero. Tho oth-K oth-K er Irrigated about every te'n days nnd cultivated two or three tlmea IB I during tho summer. His avorago was ten tons per acre Tho soil on both . farms was the same "Host farmers must learn to cultivate culti-vate more and irrlgato less." Box ijElder Journal. |