Graham guardian., 1912-02-23
SUGAR BEET CULTURE
Fall Flowing Is One Most De-
sirabIe Factor.
In Use OF irrigation Much Care and
Judgment Should Be Exercised
Water Applied at Right Times
Insures Good Crop.
Dy J. c. HoGENsoN. utah.)

QBy j. c. HOGENSON, Utah.)
In the preparation of the land for
the sugar beets. fell plowing is de.
sirable factor. as the food and moist
ure required by the young plants are
thereby more easily obtained and the
ground will be In better condition
to make good seed.bed. If the soil
Is not rich enough in humus, well-rot-
ted manure should be spread and
plowed under in the fall, using about
ten loads to the acre. Horse and
sheep manure are especially valuable.
A manure pile upon which beets or
their tops have decayed should be
avoided. as diseases are likely to ap-
pear next season in consequence.
In the irrigation of the beets much
care and judgment should be exercis,
ed. Prof Shaw has formulated the
Following general and very proper in-
structions: For the successful irri-
cation Of the beet crop, some funda-
mental characteristics of the plant
must be considered; for by the wrong
use Of water It is an easy matter to
ruin the crop. On the other hand.
water applied at the right time will
usually Insure a large and profitable
crop. The sugar beet will get along
with less water and will stand more
Of It than most other farm crops. This
statement needs some explanation,
however. for, while In one sense 1t is
true. It is also true that the crop may
be ruined by too liberal application
OF water, or by its application at the
wrong time in the life Of the plant.
There are three periods In the life OF
the sugar beet which demand entire
~ different treatment so far as moist
ure Is concerned. ID The germinat-
ing or plantlet period, embracing the
time from planting until the plant has
four leaves (2) The growing per-
iod. In which the form and size Of the
plant are developed. (3) The sugar
storing period, in which the sugar is
elaborated from the air.
In the first period the necessary
condition Is that the beet seed should
have sufficient moisture and warmth
to germinate and start 1t, but never
in excess.
After the plant has developed four
leaves there should be sufficient moist
ure in the soil to develop It, but eau
tion should be used in applying 1t for
about two months. When the plant is
young its natural tendency is to send
Its taproots deep into the soil to pro-
cure moisture, and this is the time
that the form Of the beet is set. II
the water at the surface Is given too
soon and too abundantly at the be-
ginning of this period, the shape Of
the root Is ruined. for the plant will
have too strong tendency to rely
upon the surface moisture rather than
to seek the moisture Of the soil below,
becoming thus short, stubby, forked
beet, The beet may show tendency
to droop its leaves and become lighter
In color, but this does not indicate
that moisture Is needed Irrigation
should not be resorted to until there
is an absolute demand for it. Wilt
Ing Of the leaves In the heat of the
day does not indicate the need Of ir-
rigation. If the leaves recover their
vigor in the evening 1t Is sufficient ev-
idence that their wants are supplied
in this direction. When the plant
really needs water the leaves droop
and grow darker In color and will not
recover their vigor In the evening.