The Ordway new era., 1908-05-01
BETTER BEET CULTURE

How erroneous is the prevalent IDEA
that II the farmer has Irrigation Ia
e,iffies to depend on, he mas iitlie ei'o
"a concern himself about during the
growth of the beet, II once the bunch-
inc and thinning are successfully ac'
complished. Frequently, through ~
norance OF It's proper and economic use
irrigation is a dangerous equlpmehto on
the beet growers estate. Direct appi'
cation of water rarely ever benefits the
beets. That statement seems 'alse o'
the face OF 10, but IL is true neVerthe-
less that capillary water alone nourish'
cs and mnistens the growing oee'
plant and other plants. Now we get at
the main principle Of proper culture
namely, the careful, intelligent man
agement OF the soil to conserve
moisture that comes from whatever
source, and TO facilitate plant nOurish-
ment through the several channels
nature has provided aside from the
elementary principle OF water supply.
The soil must first OF all be loose
enough and yet compact enough 10
admit OF air circulation, capillary ac-
tion, and bacteria propagation and
growth; while IL must ever be borne 10
mind that too loose a soil Will have an
opposite and detrimental effect. Next,
the roOtlets will want soft and like
wise compact soil to ramify through.
II the soil Is rs IL should be IL Will
take up and hold moisture like a
sponge, and give IL out (thrOugh capii-
larry action as fast as top soil con-
ditiOns require. | know OF cases where
winter irrigation has been practiced,
followed by the most thorough and
scientific preparation OF the ground,
that no water WAS wanted or used
throughout the entire season Of i've
crop was secured. Irrigation water
was handy and could have been used
il desired. 1t is possible to so prepare
the soil and TO so manipulate IL
through the season as TO reduce TO
practically nothing the usual loss by
evaporation and seepage. Whether the
water comes by rainfall or by artificial
methods, IL must first be turned into
the natural capillary system prevail
ing in the soil before IL can be OF
much benefit 10 the crop.
Cultivation IL tho husIa ~ p,ianttn,
agriculture today; and | am led to be.
lieve that this has especial bearing
upon the raising OF sugar beets, keep
ing In mind all the while that we re-
gard this and water as the two prime
factors. Cultivation should begin
when the beets are very young and
continue without Interruption until
the size Of the roots and leaves renders
this work impractcable. Bear in mind
this one thing: The reason why so
much water, comparatively, is reQuir-
ed for adequate culture, is because OF
loss ny evaporation. The plant uses
but small amount. Through cult.
walton, that is, Intelligent working OF
the surface soil. evaporation may be
very materially reduced and this loss
will consequently play but small part
In the work OF the field. II need hard
ly be said that, oftentimes, mere
quantity Of water lost or saved is but
a comparatively small item: but no
one Is going to forget that alongside
this stard other and more important
considerations. The vexations and
drawbacks incident to irrigation are
features Of the farmers perplexities
not TO be ignored, with the attendant
provoking crusts and alternating sur.
felt and shortage Of moisture. Saws a
government bulletin, In dealing with
this subject:
"a loose soil with large pores has
low capillary power and will absorb
but little water from a moist suil in
contact with 1t; therefore layer OF
loose soil covering the moist.soil res
ervoir will conserve the water in the
latter by reducing evaporation from
1t. 1t is well established by the ex.
perience OF farmers as well as by direct
experimentation that layer of loose
dry soil three or four inches deep is
effective In preventing the drying out
OF soils. II this mulch be maintained
through the season by proper cultiva.
tion, 1t is more beneficial than straw
mulch. The soil mulch and the cul.
tivation to produce it cause the plant
to root deeply, and the aeration OF the
soil improved. To be most effective
the surface tilage must be kept up.
The soil must be cultivated after each
rain or Irrigation" and (the writer
would add before each rain or irripa.
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