The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-03-04
GROW SUGAR BEETS
Work Properly Starts in Fall and
Continues During Season.
First Irrigation Comes from July is
to August I, and Second Two
Weeks Later-Much cuIti-
walton Is Necessary.

The growing of sugar beets prop
erly starts in the fall. II 1t Is to be
alfalfa ground we plow shallow in
the fall and harrow SO as to bring all
the roots possible on top. Then
when we pillow in the spring deep,
eight to ten inches SO as to turn all the
roots possible clear under.
II old stubble ground we give a
good coat of manure. about ~ loads
per acre, put on with manure
spreader, writes I. d. O'Donnell in
Northwestern Stockman and Farmer.
Last winter we put out 1900 loads
and expect about the same this WIN
ter.
We begin blowing as early In the
spring as the ground is fit to plow
and work well. The plows are fol-
lowed close with the harrow disk or
planker according to condition OF the
soil
The usual work after blowing is:
Double narrowing, then level cross
wise, then disk or harrow diagonal,
then the leveler lengthwise again. II
inclined to be cloddy we double disk
and also go over with planker or
roller.
If the ground had beets the previous
year we usually do not need to disk;
but in alfalfa or sod ground the disk
Is essential. We make considerable
use of the corrugated roller.
Then comes the drill; a four-rowed
drill 20 inches apart. We make the
rows rs long as possible and with the
lay of the land for irrigation.
If weather is favorable we aim to
begin drilling about April 10 to the
18th. and aim to have all seeding done
by May 18TH. Just as soon as the
beets begin to come through the
ground we roll with corrugated
roller. This breaks any crust that
may nave formed. packs the soil
around the beets, breaks up the gen.
eral formation so that the ground does
not dry out go quickly, and prepares
the ground better for the first cultiva-
lion.
AS soon as the beets are up so that
the rows show we start the cultiva-
tor; usually a four rowed one, with
the knives close to the rows.
When about four leaves show on
the beets the hand laborers start their
work. Their first work is blocking
which consists Of chopping the beets
In blocks about eight inches apart.
This is followed by the cultivator
again working mostly in the middle
Of the row. Then follows the laborer
ngain to do the thinning. Each block
Is thinned down to one beet; and right
here Is a very important part of the
work. No double beets must be left.
Then comes the cultivator again. This
time the diggers are put on and the
soil is worked deeper. Then follows
the first hoeing by the hand worker,
which consists Of general hoeing close
to the beet and pulling all double
beets that may have been left the last
time over. Then another cultivation
with tools according to the condition
of the soil and weather.
\ BY this time the beets are six or
eight inches high. The cultivator is
kept going continuously. A little later
the worker gives them their last hoe
ing which consists mostly in cutting
out any weeds that may show up in
the rows. AS the bets get larger the
soil is cultivated deeper. What are
called the bull tongues are put
on to dig the soil deep to prepare
for the shovels that go on the cult
vator for furrowing the last time be-
lore irrigation.
The first irrigation comes from July
Us to August l and the second irri-
cation about two weeks later. A good
cultivation after irrigation would be
good to keep the soil from baking, but
usually by this time the tops are SO
large that the horse cannot get
through without breaking great
many down.