Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-02-02
SUGAR BEET CULTURE
Fall Flowing is One Most De-
sirable Factor.
In Use Of Irrigation Much Care and
judgment Should Be Exercised
Water Applied at Right Times
lnsures Good Crop.
az J. 9. HooENsoN. utahl

tby J. G. HOGENSON. Utah.)
In the preparation OF the land for
the sugar beets. fall blowing is de
sirable factor. as the food and moist
nre required by the young plants are
thereby more easily obtained and the
ground will be In better condition
to make good seed-bed II 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.
manure pile upon which beets or
their tops have decayed should be
avoided, as diseases are likely to APP
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 1t is an easy matter to
ruin the crop. On the other hand,
water applied at the right time will
usually insure q large and profitable
crop. The sugar beet will get along
with less water and will stand more
of 1t than most other farm crops This
statement needs some explanation.
however, for, while In one sense it is
true, Ii 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
ly 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-
Tod. in which the form and size of the |
plant are developed. (3) The sugar
storing period, in which the sugar is
from the air.
In the first period the necessary |
is that the beet seed should
have sufficient moisture and warmth |
70 terminate and start 1t, but never
n excess.
After the plant has developed four
caves there should be suffi cient moist
Ire In the soil to develop It, but eau
ion should be used In applying it for
bout two months. When the plant is
'oung It's natural tendency is to send
is taproots deep into the soil to pro-
,ures moisture, and this is the time
hat the form of the beet is set If
he water at the surface is given too
Don and too abundantly at the be-
inning of this period, the shape of
he root is ruined, for the plant will
ave too strong a tendency to rely
pom the surface moisture rather than
ecoming thus a short stubby. forked
eet. The beet may show a tendency
} droop its leaves and become lighter
! color. but this does not indicate
lat moisture is needed Irrigation
hould not be resorted to until there
an absolute demand for it. Wilt
lg of the leaves in the heat of the
ay does not indicate the need of IT. Z
cation. If the leaves recover their
gor in the evening it is sufficient ev- g
ence that their wants are supplied
this direction When the plant G
ally needs water the leaves droop
I'd grow darker In color and will not h
cover their vigor in the evening. n