Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-04-03
FOR BETTER
BEET CULTURE
sesse II. nutram In the
Beet sugar Gazette
Continued from Last Week

Continued from Last Week
How erroneous is the prevalent
idea that i fthe farmer Las irrigation
facilities to depend on, lie has little
else to concern himself about dur-
ing the growth of the beet. IL once
the punching and thinning are sue
cessfully accomplished. frequently,
through ignorance OF its nroper and
economic use, irrigation Is a danger
Gus equipment ON the beef growers
estate. Direct application of water
rarely ever benefits the bccis. That
statement seems false on the face of
IL. but II is true nevertheless shat ca
pillary water alone nourishcs and
moistens the growing beet plant
Now we get at the main principle OF
proper beet culture. namely. The care
ful. intelligent management of the
soil to conserve moisture that comes
from whatever source. and to sacili-
tate plant nourishmcnt through the
several channels anturc has provided
aside from the elementary principle
OF water supp. The soil must FIRST
OF all he loose enough and yet com.
pact enough to admit Of air cireu-
lation. capillary action. and bacteria
proposition and growth: while !,
must ever be borne in mind that too
loose soil will have an opposite and
detrimental effect. Next. the rootlcts
will wan, soft and likewise compact
soil "a ramify through. II the soil
is as II should b. il will take up and
hold moisture like a sponge. and give
], OF, uhrough capillary action) as
fast as top soil conditions require. ]
know OF cases where winter irriga-
ton has been prac,iced. followed by
tkc most thorough and scientific
preparation oil the ground. that no
water was wanted or use throughout
me entire season Of five months beet
cured. Irrigation water was haudy
and could have been used II desired.
IL is possible to so prepare the soil
and to so manipulate II through the
season as to reduce to practically
nothing the usual loss by evaporation
and sccpagc. Whether the water
comes by rainfall or by artificial
methods. il must first be turned into
the natural capillary system prcvail-
ing in the soil before il can be of
much benefit to the crop.
Cultivation is the basis OF scientific.
agriculture today: and ] am led 70 be-
licvc that this has especial bearing
upon the raising Of sugar bceis. keep
ing in mind all tho while that VIC re-
gard this and water as the two prime
fsctors Cultivation should begin
when the bccts are very young aud
continue without interruption until
the size of the roots and leaves rcn-
dcrs this work impraciieablc. Bear
in mind this ono thing: The reason
why so much water. comparatively,
is required for adequate culture. is
because OF loss by evaporation. The
plant uses but small amount.
Through cultivation. that is. intrlli-
gent working OF the surface soil.
evaporation may he very materially
reduced and this loss will consequent
iy play hut small part in the work
Of the field. II need hardly be said
that. oftcntimcs, mere quantity oil
water lost or saved is but compara-
lively small item: but no one is go-
ing to forget that alongside this
stand other and more important con-
sidcrations. The vcxations and draw
backs incident to irrigation arc fca-
lures OF the farmers pcrplcxitics not
to he ignored, with the attendant pro-
vok:ng crusts and alternating suricit
and shortage Of moisture. Says
government bulletin. in dealing with
this subject:
"a loose soil with large pores has
lew capillary power and will absorb
bui little water from moist soil in
contact with il: therefore a layer OF
loose soil covering the moist-soil res
crvoir will conserve the water in the
latter by reducing evaporation from
i. II is well established by the cx-
pcricncc OF farmers as well as by di.
rect experimentation that a layer OF
loose dry soil three or four inches
deep is effective in preventing Tie
drying out Of soils. II this mulch be
maintained through the season by
proper cultivation, il is more beneh-
cial than straw mulch. The
soil mulch and the cultivation to pro-
ducc il cause the plant to root deeply,
and the acration of the soil is i'm
proved. To be most effective the sur
face tillagc must be kept tip. The
soil must be cultivated after each
rain," and (thc writer would add
before each rain II possible.
Therefore, first, last and always,