The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-08-20
GROW SUGAR BETS
Three Hoeings Are often Needed
During the Season.
In Irrigated Areas 1t Is Comparatively
Easy to Gauge All Work of cult-
Acknowledgment Stirring Of
Soil Essential.

Sugar beets receive their first hoe
Ing when blocked This gives them
all the hand hoeing they will need
for time, but quite often three hoe.
lngs are given during the season
Some advocate hoeing only when the
presence of weeds necessitates, but l
believe the work should be done more
frequently, and practical tests have
proven this, writes j. X. Buffum in
Field and Farm. Unless cross-cultiva-
ton could be done between the beets
In the rows there would be no stir
ring of the soil at all practically,
which In my estimation would be I'M
warranted neglect. While hoeing is
not so essential as horse cultivation,
its intensive practice will pay.
The first and second .hoeings cost
more than the third. This operation
must be resorted to whenever weeds
appear, even If not performed more
frequently. In at least one locality
the definition OF weeds has been given
legal construction and is understood
to cover all growths foreign to the
main crop. One contractor refused
to remove the cane stalks that ap-
peared. but was compelled to do SO
upon the legal construction of the
term weeds. Cultivation with harrow
or horse cultivator may begin about
as soon as the rows are clearly
enough defined by the young plants
to be guide for driving. Shallow
blades are the best things to use at
first and they have to be set SO that
no dirt Is thrown against the tender
leaves. in fact trife should be
drawn away from them.
Later, knives for deeper stirring
are used and as the season advances
some light dirt mayb thrown against
the beets. A crown that rises above
the surface is a source of annoyance
In later processes. When the beets
are so far matured as to touch leaves
between the rows, horse cultivation
should cease and the only subse-
quent work required Is to carefully
pull all weeds. Experienced growers
never run their cultivators close to
the row In early civilizations, but q
close adjustment becomes necessary
as the season advances and the beets
become larger and stronger. In irri.
gated areas 1t is comparatively easy
to gauge all this work of cultivating,
because complete schedule may be
planned.
Then within a day or so after irri-
eating the ground is again cultivated.
destroying any crust that may be
forming and pulverizing the surMce
SO that practically a dust mulch is
prepared, which prevents evaporation.
This system is perfectly simple in the
irrigated sections, yet comparatively
few farmers follow it out. It is al.
most imperative in rainfall areas to
cultivate or stir the soil Immediately
after each rain, and If possible, where
the tracts are not too extensive. the
same work should be done lust be.
fore precipitation is expected. But
II the grower males frequent stirring
OF the surface soil regular practice
there will be no trouble about the
timeliness of his efforts. The ground
should be kept in perfect condition
for the reception of water at all
times and with more cultivation close.
~ following each rainfall, all the OBJ.
jects sought in manipulation of the
soil will have been achieved.