The Greeley tribune., 1910-06-30
POINTERS ON DEPTH
FOR BEET FLOWING

EOR BEET PIOWINN
Several days ago at FARMERS
meeting very interesting argument
arose in regard to the depth OF
breaking the soil for sugar beets as
well as for stock beets.
One farmer contended that he mas
tried deep and shallow plowins ana
finds that deep plowing did not give
him as large roots as where he piow-
ed shallow. The argument that ne
advanced for this was that in .looser
soil the root has tendency TO ue-
yelop large system of hne roots
rather than the large root that we
desire.
On the other hand. one OF the
beet growers had just opposite re-
suits. and stated that II he had the
power to turn his beet soil "a inches
deem he would do so. Several men
stated that deep plowing seemed TO
decrease their crop but couio ho'
Sccount for it; they blamed them
selves for it rather than the piowlhe'
rs they were advocates OF deep piow
ing. and, therefore, concluded that
through some other cause thah
blowing the crop was inJ red.
work. Deep plowirg caused an ah-
normal system of fine roots" Not
knowing all OF the causes that may
attend this crop, but drawing from
him by continual questioning the
method of working his fields, we are
Of the opinion that this deep plowlng
was done rather late in the spring.
At that time OF the year the soil was
beginning to get dry. end broke up
in rather large clods, these large
clods at the bottom of deep furrow
formed a great many air spaces Tor
the very reason that the soil could
not be worked to the same depth
that It was plowed, the result was
that when the plant threw its roots
lower than the top surface that was
we'll worked and struck the loose
structure underneath the roots had
TO find nourishment among the clods
and, therefore. made a large root
growth.
The other men that plowed deep
and had negative results were them |
selves to blame. The land on which |
they had planted the beets was fairly |
cid soil, never having been plowed
deeper than the regulation four
inches. realizing that in order to
grow something deeper plowing |
must be resorted to. they turned in
and plowed the land between eight
and nine inches deep. BY so plow-
ing the land they brought to the Il
surface much of the poor subsoil, as
q result the young beet plants, in
stead of finding great deal of
nourishment at the early stages of
its life. became stunted,
In case deep blowing is resorted
to on land that has been under con-
tinual shallow cultivation, a subsoil
pillow should be used. II the land
has been plowed four inches deep,
break 1t about FIVE inches. bringing
up only a very small amount of the
poorer subsoil. and do the rest OF
the work with a subsoil plow. BY II
gradually plowing the soil deeper
We at last get good. deep. rich
seed bed that will not be injured but
benentted by deep plowing.
Our experience has been that |
deep plowink II desirable for sugar |
or stock heets, ~ to the depth that
ve can plow depends entirely upon
the nature Of the soil. II the soil h |
deep and rich We have no use for the |
subsoil plow, but turn the entire |
AOsAOW JUDI 06 0oCP - INC 0t0iI-
able power on your farm will permit |
It; We must bear in mind. however,
IN all deep plowing we must use our
Judgment. AZ this varies with the
season when plowed, and the crop
that we wish to grow.
Deep plowing at a late season is
mover to be recommended. for then
we are very apt to have 4 case ~
the f1YHt farmer in nuoatjOn Wo
must give the soil a chance to settle,
or apply an abundance of irrigation
water and settle 1t by that means.
One year when We were caught
rather late with our work we prac-
tised the discing of the land before
the plow; that is, we disced the land
thoroughly and followed it with the
plow. In this manner we avoided
the clods and rough soil in the bot
tom of the furrow. This method. of
course. cannot be followed where we
have heavy stand Of alfalfa or sod
Ranch and Range.