Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-05-12
beet THINNING
QUESTION DISCUSSED
At Well Attended Agricultur-
al Club Meeting
PAY MORE FOR
BETTER THINNING
Ard Oversee the Work Yourself
Seemed to be Generally Favored
by Experienced Growers

by Experiences Growers
At a very well attended meeting
meeting held Saturday. the Otero Agri-
cultural club attached some ten or twelve
names of farmers to the membership
roll. had a very interesting discussion re-
RardnR the value of the thinning operation n
to the beet crop If handled right. also Of
the labor conditions. subjects for the next
meeting. exhibit affairs and many other
interesting questions that came up. 1t
was a thoroughly successful meeting
with an attendance Of about fifty. which
is some gathering of farmers who are all
wanting to boost their club.
Vice President BENZ. Allison OF Manza-
nola acted as chairman. relieving Pat
McElroy. who was busy on committee
matters. Mr.. MeElroy Is hustler and to
him and his assistants in Office is due the
phenominal success Of the nav club.
The discussion on bests was very ex7
tsnsive. and involved the thinning an d
labor conditions. and there was not =
man pressnt who did not receive from
his nsighbor suggestions that will mean
money in his pocket. The substance Of
the meeting regarding beet thinning was
that it was very important to the farmer
to remain in the field with the thinnsrs
during the thinning period. and insist that
the beets be thinned right. 8 to 10 inches
apart. leaving the strong beets and not
the wsakling. and that the work must be
done right II such Is done..ths tonnage is
bound to be increased. and such means
money to everyone interested. naturally.
Thaune thinners working on contract
are very liable to shunt their work IL not
watched was proved by the many sx-
rsrieness related. and the wise grower
will spend his time in the field.
Treatment Of the labor was also dis
eusssd. and the general feeling was that
the laborsr should not be dealt harshly
with in insisting on good thinning. but
rather encouraged to better thinning. and
II necessary q small bonus offered them
II the work was well done.
The Indian labor was the subject Of
much discussion. and the Indians were
accepted as generally quite satisfactory.
Mexican thinners came in for their share
Of the discussion also. IS did the Japanese
and the American youngsters that often
assist in the field.
Pay more for better timing was the
idea, According to the figures Of beet
tonnages and possibilities it was shown
that II beets are planted ID inches apart,
and thinned to s to 10 inches there will
approximately be 4l.ooo beets in an
re. which IL weighing only one pound
would make over twenty tons. OF course
this was a perfect stand, but one pound
beet is not . very large one. and the ex-
ample was used to show how important
it is that tas thinning is done evenly and
uniformly.
The subjects for next meeting. to be
held Saturday, May 20. were selected as
eanta pes. eueumbers and general dis
sussion6 any agricultural question that
might eJms up. The members were
asked to bring questions at one meeting.
and others would attempt to answer
hem at future meetings and in that way
much Information could be brought out,
A very nice lunch was served in inter-
mission and when the meeting ADJOURN
ID at about s o'clock there was none
resent that had not thoroughly enjoyed
he meeting. and undoubtedly received
BENEFITS from It.