The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-08-28
SUGAR BEET SOILS
Being Investigated by Representative
of the Department of Agri-
culture.

of the Department of Agri-
culture.
DR.. Howard S. Reed, Of the Blu
reau Of Soils, of Washington, D. c.,
has begun an inspection of the sug-
ar beet soils Of this part Of Michigan
with "a view to determining the con-
ditons most favorable for beet
growing. The request for this in
spection was forwarded to Washing
ton through Representative ]. w.
Fordney and an authorization for
the work promptly followed.
When questioned concerning the
Michigan beet soils DR.. Reed said ::
The soils and climate Of this state
have long been known to be espec-
tally we'll adapted to the culture of
sugar beets and I see no reason why
the industry should not develop into
one of large proportions. Sugar
used ITO be regarded as a luxury, but
it is now necessity in every Amer
lean household, there is always a de-
mand for the product and there is no
reason why the money paid out for
this great commodity should not go
into the pockets of your farmers"
Il have examined the soil on a
number Of beet fields in this locality
and find them all to be what are
termed Strong soils They are main
ly clays and clay loans, which con-
tain moderately large amounts of
sand, and are underlain by compact
subsoils. Such soils are not easily
depleted of their fertility"
Have not these soils been ex-
amined and mapped by the govern
ment?"
Eyes, the Bureau of Soils has pre-
pared some excellent maps of the
different soils and their distribution
in this locality. These maps are sent
free to anyone requesting them from
his Senator or Representative in Con-
gress."
do you think that the cultivation
of sugar beets Injuries the soil?"
'No, do not, ON the contrary
the intense cultivation given to beets
is benefit to the land becaues it
keeps the soil aerated and clears the
land of weeds. OF course, you may
injure the soil by the ignorant or
careless culture of any crop. The
continued growing of corn or wheat
upon most any soil ultimately brings
it into condition unfavorable to
that particular crop. Modern science
has taught us the reason for this;
the thousands of tiny roots are CIV
ing off waste matters which are
formed in the growing plants, just as
waste matters are given off by Dun
bodies. These waste matters left in
the soil become harmful to a crop
Of the same kind if planted the fol-
lowing year, and an accumulation
of them becomes seriously detriment-
al to the growth of that crop. Gu
riously enough, however, these ex-
GREETED substances are not usually
harmful to plants of another kind,
but may even be somewhat benefic-
jal to them. Thus potatoes do not
succeed after potatoes, bar
ley does we'll and restores the land
to its original productiveness for pc
batoes. Corn does not thrive the
year following a crop Of beets, APP
because the eXcreted SUBJ
stances left by the beets are harmful
also to corn, but oats do we'll after
Deets and restore the soil to sanitary
so that beets or corn can
De again grown"
When asked concerning the advis-
ability Of using commercial fertil- |
zers DR.. Reed said: "The majority
IF the farmers who have used fer
ilizers have obtained good results. |
think that applications of 100 to
200 pounds to the acre Of good fer
iliZer will pay on most of these |
oils. I should prefer to use fer
ihzers which contained at least |
hree per cent Of actual potash since |
his particular elemnt is especially |
Important in sugar formation in the |
liant. In addition to this fertilizer |
he farmer should continue to save |
nd apply all the barn yard manure |
Ia can get"
DR.. Reed will continue to exam
ne beet soils in the vicinity of this
ity and Saginaw for several days.
1t expiration Of his assignment he
will return to Washington, ID. c.