Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-06-24
USEFUL INFORMATION
And Pertinent Suggestions to Beet
Growers.

Growers.
The circular letter herewith has been
mailed to the beet growers Of the district
by the American Beet Sugar Co.. and
contains many suggestions and informa-
ton on the prospects Of the industry
this year:
II you intend to take beet pulp from
this seasons crop. 1t is necessary that
you make your written application be-
fore July Ist. Please do not overlook
this, but write at once.
The crop is making rapid progress, and
1t is advisable to push the thinning.
There is sufficient labor to take care Of
this work now in case you are short
of help, please communicate with your
Agricultural, who will assist you.
Cultivation is at present generally
somewhat neglected on account of har-
vesiing the first crop Of alfalfa.
We wish to emphasize the importance
of thorough cultivation. As the beet
plant grows larger, set your cultivator
attachments so that they operate at a
greater distance from the tap root, and
that the lateral roots are not destroyed
by TOO deep cultivation too close to the
beets, for through these roots the beet
plant receives its principal nourishment.
We have noticed in orchards and
gardens, and also in some beet fields. the
presence Of crop-destroying insects, es-
pecially caterpillars. leaf beetles and
leaf hoppers, and while these at present
are not in any alarming number. the
possibility of their increasing rapidly
from now on. is not to he overlooked.
II will, therefore, be of the utmost i'm
portance to you to exarinc daily your
farm crops for the presence OF such in
sects, and in case YOU find them. project
Yourself Immediately against serious
damage. For instance. II csterpillars,
such as web worms and army worms are
on crops adjoining your beet fields, sur
round the latter entirely with n small
ditch in which you keep water until the
worms have disappeared. Should you
find leaf-eating parasites in your beet
field, immediate spraying will be neces-
sarv. Spray as soon as you see the first
worms. and do not wal, urtil they are
all over the field. as they can seriously
your crop within day or two.
The following preparations will enable
vou 10 protect your beets against serious
II timely applied
Use two pounds of Paris green to 100
gallons of wa'er and add four pounds OF
fresh lime. Stake the lime first, stir the
p ,ison into a thin paste with little
water. Add this to the lime, then strain
through a sieve into a tank containing
tNe water Then use a nozzle that throws
a fine s7ray. and do not continue the
application in ore place long enough so
that the drops sprayed upon the leaves
will run together and flow off. carrying
the poison with them. Keep the mixture
we'll stirred while spraying. Paris Green
is deadly poison).
Put two pounds of white arsenic and
eight pounds of sal soda together in a
dish and boil for 40 minutes in two gal
Ions of water and keep as a concentrated
solution Then in each 40 gallons Of
water, first slake four pounds of lime and
then add slowly one quart of the concen-
trated solution while the whole is being
stirred The lime should be strained
through cloth to take out the Jumps.
The mixture is then ready for applica-
tion, to be used the same as Paris Green.
THE white arsenic is a deadly poison.l
The weather OF the last ten days has
been very trying on the beet crop. Cen
eral irrigation will be beneficial. Many
of the young beets are badly scorched
from the hot winds and the moisture
has rapidly left the ground. Wherever
water is available. the crop should be
irrigated without delay. and il is best
to run the water in every row. and
not alternately. in order TO shorten the
time ofirrigation aud bring about a uni
form moistening OF the soil from both
sides Of the plants.
Yours Truly,
FIR wIFTZFP