The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1911-03-15
HOW To PLANT SUGAR BEETS
Article From Nevada Sugar
Company Relative To The
Best Methods.

| important. Early seeding is recon-
mended as the beets are in this man.
ner given an opportunity to develop
considerably before the hot weather of
summer comes on and maturity is
possible in the fullest sense of the
term before it gets cold in the fall.
The correct time for planting in this
valley is within the period from April
IL to May 18th.
1t is essential that the soil should be
sufficiently moist to sprout the seed.
If this moisture is not present through
natural sources, it is far better to
irrgate before the seed is placed in the
ground. During the present year SO
much precipitation has been had that
none of the heavier soils of the valley
will need the pre-seeding irrigation.
The sandy soils may need light irri-
cation.
The four-row beet drills are used for
seeding. These drills are all of the
shoe type, and the use of disk is not
necessary where the soil is properly
prepared. 1t is proper to plant the
seed from one to two inches in depth,
varying according to character and
dryness of the soil Where baking of
the soil will not occur deeper planting
is practiced. Furrowing shovels follow
behind the shoe, which make small
irrigation furrows between the rows,
to be used in case irrigation is neces-
sary to sprout the seed.
Where the fields are of considerable
extent, the sowing should not be con-
tinuous as this would mean the employ
ment of large number of thinners to
get the beets properly spaced before
they become too large. A drill should
sow ten to twelve acres of ground to
beets per day, and it is best to allow
several days to elapse between sowings
so that the beets may be thinned at
proper stage of growth.
! Just ahead of each seeding time, it is
best to harrow well, the harrow being
adjusted to run at right angles to the
rows. The proper distance between
the rows is from Is to 20 inches pre-
| ferably the first named distance, be-
cause in this manner larger number
of beets to the acre is had and a conse-
quent greater tonnage, but for the
new man 20 inch rows are better, for
they give greater space for cultivation
and the danger of destroying beets by
the cultivator is less.
The rows should be run with the
greatest slope in the field except of
course, where the check system is
used. The rows are placed so that the
drill has to make the least possible
number of turns. The Nevada Sugar
Compay will upon request of owners
of small beet fields, drill in the seed
providing necessary machinery, men
and teams at its own expense.
The quantity of seed varies from 15 to
20 pounds per acre, light seeding being
the practice in the sandy soils, where
there is little danger of crust forming,
but in the heavier soils the use of at
least 20 pounds of seed to the acre is
strongly recommended.
If the soil over the rows has been
wet and crust has formed after ir-
rigation before the beets have sprouted
sufficiently it is very important that it
be broken, as the plant at this stage
is So slender and weak that the slight
est obstrueti will stop its growth.
The most common is to use the peg
tooth section harrow with the teeth
set we'll back and harrow the field cross
wise of the rows. This destroys some
of the beets, but if sufficient seed has
been planted there will be very good
stand left. The roller, corrugated or
plain will break the crust alright, but
it has the effect of packing the soil.
The very best method is the use of the
spiders on beet cultivator. Two spid-
ers are attached for each row and run
on either side.
Herewith is found list showing the
number of beets necessary to constitute
good stand and any beet grower will
find in it information of great value to
himself.
The number of beets per acre for the
different distances in the row is figured
on square acre basis, POST feet 20s.7
ft, taking the following number of beets
at two pound each, which should be the
average weight, the tonnage can be
easily determined on any area of ground,
and with more accurate knowledge Of
the absence of beets necessary to a
good stand deduction can be made and
a very close estimate of tonnage is pos
| sible.
Rows 20 inch apart, IL inch between
beets equals 26,l07 bests per acre. or
26. lot tons per acre.
Rows 20 inch apart, 10 inch between
beets. equals 81. 1862 beets per acre. or