The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-17
Practical Suggestions in the Re-
port of Special Agent Sayler.
EXPERIENCE OF MONTANA
Director Emery Says There Ought to Be
Market Enough Along the Line of
the Northern Pacific for
First Glass Plant Here.
Washington Bureau of the Standard,
No. 1145 G Street n. w.

lor of the department of agriculture on
the progress of the beet sugar industry
in the United States is in the nature
of a general survey of the field of prac-
teal operations in beet production and
sugar manufacture. Secretary Wilson,
in his letter accompanying the report,
says: The utility of the by-produets
of the sugar beet industry as cattle
food should not be lost sight of. 1t is
evident that the sugar industry and the
dairy industry can best flourish side
by side. Special attention is called to
the interest of farmers, cattle breeders
and dairymen in the use of pulp as
food for animals. Farmers are also
strongly advised to try the experiment
of raising sugar beets for stock feed
ing purposes. In the arid regions the
areas suitable for beet culture have
been partially mapped out, without ref
erence, however, to the availability of
water for irrigation purposes. 1t has
been demonstrated that where irriga-
ton can be carried on there are large
areas in the arid regions where beets OF
superior excellence can be produced In
vestigations have further shown that
the limits of successful beet culture can
only in exceptional instances be pushed
south of the isotherm representing a
mean temperature of Il degrees for the
months of June, July and August"
The special agent says: ''Beets can
be grown successfully under irrigation
conditions and two factories in the
United States, one located in Lehi,
Utah, and the other at Eddy, in the
Pecos valley, New Mexico, secure their
beets entirely through irrigation. There
Is large amount of land available for
the raising of sugar beets by irrigation
in Colorado, Utah, Montana. Wyoming,
Western Nebraska and other states
having like conditions; and this indus
try is one that should appeal to the
people of these sections on account of
their already well-known grazing re-
sources and the fact that stock feed
ing and dairying are so intimately re-
lated to the beet sugar industry.
The first beets that were ever sue
cessfully raised by irrigation for fac
tory purposes We're grown at Lehi. I
believe it is maintained in Europe that
beets cannot be successfully grown by
irrigation-at least it is seriously ques-
tloned-but the experience at Lehi and
Eddy, N. M, has forever exploded that
theory. There are a few things that
must yet be learned about the appli-
cation of irrigation to growing sugar
beets, but the obstacles are fast being
overcome, and the two factories men
toned are teaching the world lessons
along this line. In doing this they are
also demonstrating the possibilities of
the vast resources of all the territory
In the West having like conditions. r.
rigation is especially adapted to rails
ing sugar beets where the particular
region is favored. with rainfall at
planting time. The ground is moist
NV raj in ha dc
minated and started on their first
growth. Experience has demonstrat-
ed that irrigation should be held off
as long as possible and applied as lit
tie as possible, Water should not be
applied by irrigation until the natural
supply has failed, and even then the
grower must be careful not to apply
too much which is as disastrous as
not enough.
Il have learned by talking with those
experienced in the applica ton of wa
ter by irrigation that the land tends
to dy out quickly after being irrigat-
ed and to become packed; hence culti-
walton must follow as soon as praeti-
cable after irrigation. 1t has been no.
ticed, that the beet has a tendency to
send down its taproot deep into the
soil, and especially is this true in the
earlier stages, if the necessities of the
case demand it, in order to procure
moisture. But If the water is applied
too lavishly in the beginning this ten
dency of the beet is arrested, and it
shows disposition to rely on the ar
tificial supply of moisture near the
surface rather than to seek it's own
at greater depths. Thus irrigation may
interfere with natural tendency that
is desirable in the growth and matur-
ity of the beet. The effect will be,
under these circumstances, that the
taproot will divide and the beets will
become bunchy and sprangled, assum-
ing form entirely undesira BILE. The
beet may show tendency to slightly
droop its leaves and to become lighter
in color, but this does not indicate that
irrigation Is needed. Irrigation must
not be resorted to until necessity de-
mands it. Whiting or curling up of
leaves does not necessarily indicate
lack of irrigation. When the beet be-
gins to suffer from drought it will
droop and get darker and not recov-
er in vigor with the approach of the
cool evening. This is the time to con-
slider the question of applying irriga-
ton.
1.-THE grower who applies Water by
irrigation must thoroughly understand
the science Of economically distribut-
ing the water in the field and by ex-
perience the farmer becomes more or
less adept. In regions where the beets
are started in the spring with moisture
from rainfaull it is the aim of the
grower to produce his crop with four
or five irrigations of the beets. After
they begin to ripen all irrigation must
cease, for the same reason that makes
it undesirable to have rainfall after
the beets are ripe.
Il noticed during the inspection last
summer that in some sections, especial
ly in the arid regions, where beets We're
raised by irrigation, the beets are liable
to be affected by disease or blight This
disease seems to attack the taproot at
a considerable distance under the sur
face and then gradually work up
through the body of the beet. the lat
eral roots feeding the ',-et and keeping
the leaves green during the progress
of the disease. The diseased part rots
completely, and finally the whole beet
is consumed in this way, the disease
generally completing it's work when the
beet is about two-thirds grown. After
this the leaves die, the disease having
consumed the beet and thus killed the
lateral roots which fed them. A very