The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1898-05-17
Facts About Fertilizers in Sugar Beet
Cultivation

cultivation, for there will be time
when they will play most important
role in many States that are now de-
voting their attention to beets. Il ct
to be always born in mind is, that sugar
bets vary IN size and quality with tie
nature and composition OF soil on which
they are planted
AS early as 1855 Deherian determined
to follow very closly the action of plant
foods upon sugar beets. so for the past
twenty-five years there are portions of
land at the 'irignon Experimental Farm
and have been under constant cultiva-
ton, but have received no additional
fertilizer. Under these conditions po-
taioes and oats have continued to thrive
with wheat difference is noticed, but
the crop still continues satisfactory;
beets appeared above ground, but could
not continue their development and
after few days nearly all the young
lplantlets disappeared. BY an addition
of phosphates to the exhausted soils it
was possible to obtain small crop OF
beets. As these phosphates may be
purchased at comparatively low prices
there is no reason why farmers in
certain cases should not give them
trial., the quantities to be used being
determined by an experimental test.
When the amelioration of conditions is
no longer noticeable the limit has been
reached and no further addition can be
profitable.
In those cases where farmers used,
say, eight tons of barnyard manure the
autumn before planting. the soil is thus
supplied with los pounds OF phosphoric
acid, which is sufficient to meet the
requirements of scientific beet cultiva-
ton. 1t must not be forgotten that the
barnyard manure should be ploughed
, under to a depth, when possible, of
twelve inches. The Jumps of earth
become frozen and before spring are
pulverized by the action of thawing of
ice. owing to the expansion and increase
OF volume Of the natural moisture OF
that absorbed after rain. No agricultural
implement has ever been constructed
that can accomplish this work of dis
indignation so effectually Lands that
have to undergo an entire preparation
just before sowing are never in the con-
dition so favorable for the beet develop
ment as when fall ploughed. There is
e. AN important word of warning regarding
: the use OF barnyaad manure, even Under
the conditions we have just mentioned
a We only need recall the experiences in
France in 1880, for there was then con-
siderable alarm among the manufacture
> ers from year to year the saccharne
quality of the roots was diminishing.
Some agonomists declared that the
: soil was becoming exhausted of its
patassa, which alkAi is taken up by the
!, beet during it's growing; then potassic
b craze followed, but numerous expert
e ments showed beyond cavil that the
i deterioration in the quality of beets was
a rot due to the absence of potassa in the
y soil, but to the excess of those nitric
= elements furnished by the BARNARD
manure, giving satisfactory crops to the
farmer but OF an inferior quality fol
' sugar extraction, the sugar percentage
II of beets being always inversely proper
J" tional to their percentage. From l8S4
q new law was passed, and the maui
facturers, being anxious to secure beeti
, of superior quality, offered slidn,
i scale of prices depending upon suga
Ie percentage A written agreement wa
ell required that barnyard manure, or an,
lie other nitric fertilizer, should not b
lr used; difficulties, however, frequentl,
& arose between interested parties farmer
81 were accused of having nsed the nictri