The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1910-02-18
FILLING THE BETS
Question as to Depth Of Cultiva-
ton and Proper Time.
One Great Mistake of Farmers When
Flowing Deep ls That Fields Are
Too Wet--Judicious Irrios-
tor Essential.


In considering the question of the
cultivation of The beets 1t Is often
question in the mind of the grower
whether he should cultivate deep or
shallow, and just at what time he
should begin the cultivation.
AS we have often said, farming is
not a constant science, but variable
one, writes Prof F. Knorr In Ranch
and Range. The various operations
depend upon the climatic conditions
more than upon all else, we have
found in our experience that while
deep cultivation is beneficial one year
1t may mean failure the next. Year
after year, however, we find that
fairly deep cultivation at the fore part
of the season that Is from four TO five
inches In depth and gradual shall
low cultivation toward the end of the
ripening season gives the best aver.
age results.
We have met with a great deal of
opposition among the beet growers
when we suggested deep cultivation
| for the first time, the argument always
being that the cutivator covers too
many of the small beets We admit
that this may cause little trouble.
but II Is nothing serious. Those tina.
have disc attachments for the cult
vators may attach these as feeders TO
prevent the covering
One great mistake that many farm
ers make when they wish to practice
/ deep blowing is to go into the field
when 1t is too wet. This, as a rule,
will puddle the soil, turn it up In large
pieces that will soon bake In the sun,
and thus ruin the field for the season.
II deep cultivation is to be followed
take care that the soil is dry enough
to work up nicely, and break up into
a loose mulch.
For the past few years we have had
! the opportunity to observe a large
number of beet fields. We made it a
point to see how the cultivation was
done, and found that in the majority
of cases the growers used what we
know as the Austin" knives from one
end of the season to the other, with
the exception when the ditching hoes
were used. In many of these cases
we found that the knives were very
dull and as a result the actual cuti-
walton was not more than about one
inch deep.
| What are the results of this kind
OF working? In the first place, the
soil dries out quickly, in the hot windy
weather rapid evaporation takes
| place, and we are forced to either ir-
rlgate the beets or suffer loss from
much decreased crop. The other OBJ
lection " this kind of cultivation is
that we do not have GOOD loose bed
for the roots to develop.
1t is nothing uncommon for beet
growers to say 81 have plenty water;
my beets will not suffer for the want
of It," 1t Is not so much a matter OF
suffering, but matter of expense, a
good cultivation does not cost any
more than the mere scratching Of the
soil, but the application of water is
an extra expense.
In Germany the saying is Sugar Is
hoed into the beets." Here, where
we do but very little hand work, we
should strive to do better horse work
There is no reason whatever why we
cannot grow as good beets as the
farmers on the other side of the wa.
ter.
The matter of a good loose soil for
the roots to grow and to develop is
also a greater Item than many
would suppose. BY the way of illus
tration let us compare the root sys
TEN of a plant with the stomach OF
an animal or the craw of chicken
In order to get "A good healthy ami
NAL we must feed 1t just the right
kind of feed to make a good vigorous
growth. If we give these animals {
great amount OF succulent or wash,
foods they must fill their stomach tc
the utmost and keep 1t full in order
to get sufficient nourishment out o
II TO make growth. Give a plant too
much water and the root system /,
continually crowded with very muci
diluted plant food as a cause OF this
growth Is checked to large extent
When the soil is loose and just enough
water Is given the roots will seek tn,
plant food and take IL up In such
manner as 1t is required by the plan
for the best results. In a hard stiff
soil the fine roots find It difficult L
make their way through and seek TIL
food. BY digging around plants in
hard soil we find that the roots arr
knarled and stunted, the effort thu
expended means loss to the yiel,
of the crop.
Let us practice more thorough sys
TEN OF cultivation, and Judicious irri
cation with our sugar beets. and tn
results will mean a greater profit TO
ourselves and a more satisfactory bee
for the factory.