The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-01-21
|TlLLING THE BETS
Question as to Depth Of cuItNa-
ton and Proper Time.
She Great Mistake Of Farmers When
Flowing Deep is That Fields Are
Too Wet-Judiclous lrrIga-
tion Essential.

,a ZION Essential
In considering the question of the
cultivation of the beets it Is often a
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 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 a
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 cultivator covers too
many of the small beets. We admit
that this may cause little trouble.
but it is nothing serious. Those that
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
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.
If 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 large
number of beet fields We made it
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 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 a rapid evaporation takes
place, and we are forced to either ir-
rigate the beets or suffer loss from
a much decreased crop. The other OBJ
lection to 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 Il have plenty water;
my beets will not suffer for the want
of It," 1t is not so much 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 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.
tenn Of plant with the stomach of
an animal or the craw of a chicken.
In order to get good healthy ami
NAL we must feed it just the right
kind Of feed to make good, vigorous
growth. II we give these animals a
great amount of succulent or washy
foods they must fill their stomach to
the utmost and keep 1t full in order
to get sufficient nourishment out OF
It to make growth. Give plant too
much water and the root system is
continually crowded with very much
diluted pant food. as cause of this,
growth is checked to a large extent.
When the soil is loose and Just enough
water is given the roots will seek the
plant food and take 1t up in such q
manner as 1t Is required by the plant
for the best results. In hard stifl
soil the fine roots find 1t dificult to
make their way through and seek the
food. BY digging around plants in q
hard soil we find that the roots are
knarled and stunted. the effort thus
expended means a loss to the yield
Of the crop.
Let us practice q more thorough sys
tenn Of cultivation. and judicious irri
cation with our sugar beets, and tn,
results will mean greater profit TO
ourselves and more satisfactory bee
for the factory.
DISCRIMINATING Mltes.
Here Is q remedy for the extermin
alton Of mites that is said to be an or
tire exterminator:
i To Ona ualtOy, ~ 1,o<,, ), x,,o<o~ = q