The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-18

not be lost sight Of 1t is evident that the
sugar industry and the dairy industry can
best flourish side by side. Special atten-
uon is called to the interest of farmers
cattle feeders and dairymen in the use of
pulp as food for animals. Farmers are
also strongly advised TO try the expert
ment of Raising sugar beetS for stock
feeding purposes. In the arid regions the
areas suitable for beet culture have been
partially mapped out. without reference.
however, to the ACCESSIBILITY of water for
irrigation purposes. 1t has been demon
Strated that where irrigation can be car
ried on there are large areas in the arid
regions where beets OF superior excellence
can be produced. Investigations have
further shown that the limits of success
full beet culture can only in exceptional
instances be pushed south of the iso-
therm 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 con-
ditions. and two factories in the United
States. one located in Lehi. Utah. and the
other at Eddy. i'm the Pccos valley. New
Mexico. secure their heetS entirely through
irrigation. There is a large amount of
land available for the raising Of sugar
beets by irrigation in Colorado, Utah, Wy
oming. Montana. western Nebraska and
other states having like conditions and
this industry is one that should appeal to
the people Of these sections on account
of their well-known grazing resources and
the fact that stock feeding and dairying
industry.
First Beets in Utah.
1.-The first beets that were ever success
fully raised by irrigation for factory pur-
poses were grown d Lehi. Utah. be-
lieve that it is maintained in Europe that
beets can not be successfully grown by
irrigatiOn-at least ii Is seriously queS-
tioned-Dut the experience at LEM ana Ed
dy n. NJ. has forever exploded that the
DRY. There are a few things that must
yet be learned about the Application OF r.
rigatiOn to growing sugar beets, but the
obstacles are fast being overcome. Inc
two factories mentioned are teaching the
world lessons along this line. In doing
this they are also demonstrating the pos
sibilities OF the vast resources of all the
territory in the west having like condi-
tions Irrigation is especially adapted TO
raising sugar beets where the particular
region is favored with rainfall at planting
time. The ground is moistened by ram,
and the seeds are terminated ana started
on their first growth. Experience has
demonstrated that irrigation should ne
held off as long a : possible and applied as
little as possible. Water should not be APP
piled by irrigation until the natural sup
ply 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 TO those eX-
perienced in the application of water by
irrigation that the land tends TO dry out
quickly after being irrigated and to be
come packed; hence cultivation must fol-
low as soon as practicable after irrlSa-
ton IT has been noticed that the beet
has a tendency to send down its ta9root
deep into the soil and especially Is tllS
true in the early stages. If the necessities
of the case demand it. in order to procure
moisture. But if the water y applied 100
lavishly i'm the beginning this tendency
of the beet is arrested. and il shows a dis
position TO rely on the artificial supply of
moisture near the surface rdthcn than 10
seek its Own at q greater uepth-
When Irrigation is Needed.
Thus irrigation may interfere with a
natural tendency that is desirable in the
growth and maturity of the beet. The eff
feet will be- under these circumstances,
that the taproot will divide ana the Deets
will become bunchy and sDransled, as
Stunning form entirely undesirable. The
beet may show a tendency to slightly
droop its leaves and TO become lighter in
color but this does not Indicate that irri-
CATION is needed. Irrigation must not be
resorted to until necessity demands II.
Whiting or curling up of leaves does not
necessarily indicate lack OF irrigation.
When the beet begins To suffer from
drought il will droop and get darker and
not recover in vigor with the approach of
the cool evening. This is the time to con-
slider the question of applying irrigation.
''The grower who applies water by irri-
CATION must thoroughly understand the
science of economically distributing the
water through the field and by experience
the farmer becomes more or less adept
In regions where the beets are started in
the spring with moisture from rainfall, 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 irri-
CATION 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. especially
in the arid regions where beets were
raised by irrigation, the beets are liable
to be affected with disease or blight. This