Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-08-14
FRIDAY. AUGUST IA, 1908
PROBLEMS OF BEET CULTURE
By Jesse II. Buffum In Sugar Beet
Gazette.

I wish it were possible to give to
this subject all the space it justly de-
serves. i believe, as the result OF
careful study, that more depends
upon proper soil manipulation (given,
of course, a rood stand of beets in
the first place., than upon any other
phase of the beet culture; SO that
while this subject takes its place as
an item in the category of problems
of beet culture, next to securing
good stand, it is in reality the most
important item of all.
|. There are profound and fundamen-
tai reasons for thorough soil culti-
vation, but while we will touch upon
these principles rather lightly in this
issue and devote our space to a brief
outline of the important work OF
hoeing and cultivation, it must not
be forgotten that we are dealing with
basic problems embracing the whole
scheme of moisture utilization.
Everyone must ask: Why do we cul-
tivate? and the true answer gives the
key to moisture conservation, which
is ultimately a good crop or poor
one. Most farmers abhor the term
scientific" but let us remind them
that just wherein they are success
full, they have closely adhered to
scientific principles, though unknow-
ingly, perhaps, else they would have
had no success at all. Study, thor
ough, painstaking, exhaustive, must
be the true foundation of all farming
success; practice is but the proof OF
study, on the part Of someone. II
commercial fertilizer benefits the
Z. &c
had studied out the needs of his soil
and the consequent composition OF
that fertilizer. Thousands of con-
crete instances abound. No farmer
ever erected success on the founda-
ton of his ignorance, though he often
boasts to that effect. Someone did
his thinking for him.
The important work Of cultivation
has two objects in view. first to get
the soil in a receptive condition for
falling rains, and second, to retain
this moisture when it has entered the
ground. The destruction OF weeds
and foreign growth is but an incl
dent, though necessary, OF course.
Fifty per cent of the rainfall in humid
regions runs off the soil. Ten per
cent of the rainfall of the plains
regions runs off into streams. This
lcariui waste Is uuc " IAN VI Su'a
vation of the soil. A deep, porous
soil will instantly receive whatever
water comes; a finely pulverizcd,
porous soil will retain it with scarcely
any apprcciable loss by evaporation.
Thus in 4 nutshell we have our rcas-
ons for soil cultivation. And it
should be frequent. Minute. innumer-
able pores are constantly forming in
the upper soil by capillary attraction,
and up through these carth-iiues cvap-
Grafton is continuously taking place
at rapid pace. Destroy this system
of pores by cultivation and hocing.
and this waste Immediately ceases;
and the operation must be frequently
repeated because new pores are be
ginning :" form just as soon as you
have passed. Cracks, OF course. such
as form in crust, arc vcritablc air
through them. The dricr the soil
the more it should be worked with
cultivator and hoe. Instead of clam
oring for water. let the grower get
busy with horse and hoe. and his
troubles will be at least partially
overcome.
The bcets receive their first hoeinS
when blocked. This gives them all
the hand hocing they will need for
time, but quite often three hoeings
are given during the season. Saylor
advocates hoeing only when the pres
encc OF weeds nccessitates. but | be.
licvc the work should be done more
frequently. Practical tests have prov
en- this. Unless cross-cultivation
could be done, between the bects in
the rows there would be no stirring
OF the soil at all, practically, which
in my estimation would be unwar-
rantcd neglect. While hoeing is not