The Ordway new era., 1909-03-12
FARM NOTES

NITOWeTS, -lull vi 'aN'' 80
relation to successful beet growing,
the first requisite being that TIL.
"man behind the hoe" shall be one OF
Judgment as we'll as Of industry; one
who is awake to new methods as well
as new tools. Must be ready and will.
ing to accept suggestions and make q
study of crop rotation. In short, he
must be an intensive farmer.
Not a little encouraging to the
writer was the fact that some OF the
information most emphasized In this
ably edited journal, are points that
have been repeatedly insisted upon In
the columns OF the NEW ERA. viz, f,
crop rotation, deep blowing, selection
OF soil, constant cultivation, careful
watering, fall plowing and thorough
preparation OF soil. While we have
urged never follow beets more than
two crops in succession, this more
experienced raiser says, zone crop
only every four years on same ground.
AS follows: LIST year, Winter crop
~
End, Sugar beets. 3rd., Summer crop
and IL tons manure. ith., Glover"
OF course, this is for Germany or
our eastern states-at least old land.
In our arid region this must be modi-
tied some what, but the third crop OF
alfalfa plowed under and well rotted.
will take the place OF the manure.
Here we have made one OF the great
est mistakes Of our pluwing under
alfalfa. a common method at Ordway
has been TO plOw shallow first time,
rake crowns to surface and let dry,
then burn or feed to cattle. This
also kills all bacteria-kills the soil,
and, II followed many years, will sure
ly kill the poor farmer, from starva'
tiOn. Pull up root of alfalfa and
notice the knotty, rough modulcs.
near the crown especially; these are
the home of the nitrogen fixing bac-
teria, and II left in the soil to decay,
will produce the food for your beet
So do not burn them, or you will lose
four-fifths OF the benefit OF your
rotation with alfalfa. On page 81
read, "Beets should always follow "A
cereal because the latter is harvested
early and leaves the ground In readi-
ness for early fall plowing, than which
nothing is more essential TO successful
beet culture" Good. How then
would this do for a rotation: Wet up
your alfalfa after taking of second
crup; then by the time the third crop
is inches high, the ground is Just
right to plow, and you can turn it
over with a chain on plow so not II
leaf is In sight. Wet IT up again soon
as you can don't harrow till later and
sow with winter wheat in October or
November. You will never be troubled
with alfalfa in the wheat, but you
may be troubled TO get your wheat in
the bin, II II Is small barn. How
we'll you will feel the following
August, when you turn that stubble
under and wonder where all that
black mould you plow up comes from!
81 really believe that 1t is dccayed
alfalfa" Well, after you have harvest
cd twenty tons per acre Of beets, what
fine thing 1t will be TO disc up the
ground in the following February and
put in oats and alfalfa-another
bumper crop! In fact, they are all
hu m and than hn fnr
will begin to realize the jog OF living
and using his head as well as his hands.
The article on Soil Management and
Field Work by J. II. Buffum, OF Garden
City, Kansas, is fine, and should be in
the hands OF every farmer. Let US
quote few Of his pithy sentences.
'If the soil is as it should be, IL will
take up and hold moisture like a
sponge, and give IL out (through
capillary action) as fast as top soil
conditions require. l know OF cases
Whcre winfer irrigation has been prae-
Heed, followed by the most thorough
and scientific preparation OF the
ground, that no Uater Was wanked o.,
used through the entire season OF ave
months beet growth, and q splendid
crop was secured. Irrigation water
was handy and could have been used
If desired. 1t is possible to so prepare
the soil and to manipulate it through
the season as to reduce to practically
nothing the usual loss by evaporation
and seepage. Cultivation must begin
when beets are very young and con-
tinue without interruption until the
size Of the roots and leaves renders
this work impracticable." Again,
"Back Of the successful culture of the
sugar beet today lie hundred years
Of experiment, and practically all the