Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1913-02-08
SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY.
Professor Jones Tells What is Neces.
sary to Raise Crop Here.

Valley. The sugar beet industry nrst
began active operations III Nevada III
1910 at falIon and vicinity. W hen the
sugar beet factory was built, the fac
tnry planned to handle $4,000 tons OF
bects annually, which would produce
in the ncighborhood OF l4,OUU,UOU lbs.
of sugar at an expense OF about 534
cents pound A freight rate Of 6o
rcnts per ton has been made on sugar
bcets to lailon from Wabuska.
Experience has shown that the sugar
beet reaches its highest development
in north temperate latitude and re
puires four and five months OF grow
ING weather 10 reach its maturity.
Profitable crops are seldom grown
above an altitude of 5000 feet.
A deep, claycy loan is best adapted
for bcets and should be underlaid with
a porous layer OF soil TO permit good
drainage IRE sandy soil is used sue
ccssfully also and as the furrow meth
cd OF irrigation is used there Is lit
lie danger OF clayey soil forming
surface crust around the plants and
bindcring the growth. Stony and gray
civ soil should be avoided as well as
sandy soils that have tendency to
blow. Small amounts OF white or sui
pNdiC dlkdH 40 not lHJuiC tlC ptNt
while the black carbonate salts are
very harmful.
The sugar beet requires a deep, mel
low soil free from weed growth. Beets
should not be grown on alfalfa land OF
the preceding year The soil should
be plowed at depth OF to II inches
and if there is a hard subsoil the land
should be subsoicd TO inches to
allow the necessary penetration OF
roots The land should be plowed III
the direction of the slope and never
at right angles, as the the dead fur
rows prevent uninform flow OF wa
ter \ reversible pillow Is the most con
ycnicnt but not necessary.
After blowing the ground in spring
il should be double disked. tapping the
disc harrow c-half on each round.
Ii there is not sufficient moisture IN
the ground to terminate the seed, the
ground should be irrigated as early as
possible before planting The ground
may be compactcd by a roller which
aids in breaking up the clods.
Ii the ground is not plowed in the
fall it should be plowed a carly IN the
spring as possible.
The proper dwelling of ground is an
expensive operation, but a lew acres
properly lcyelcd will prove more salts
factory than many acres only partially
lcvelcd Without proper dwelling
and grading a uniform application OF
water is almost impossible and some
OF the plants will be killed by drown
ing or scalding in the low places,
I he iurrow method OF irrigation Is
best adapted TO Nevada grown beets
and does not interfere with planting,
cultivating or harvesting OF the beet
as in the case OF check or borders.
At the time OF seeding the rows are
marked bv a furrowing attachment on
the drill For furrowing out these
rows a cultivator or furrowng sled
may be used The amount OF water
allowed each furrow should be small
so il will run slowly and secure a good
saturatiou This water is obtained /
from a head ditch and at intervals OF
800 to 500 feet there should be a
cross ditch depending on the slope
The amount OF water distributed to the +
burrows can be controlled better by
the use OF small lath boxes or sections .
Of tin or iron pipe placed in the lower .
bank I he lath boxes are apt to wash /
out
The cost OF preparing land for fur
row irrigation varies from s. to SIS I
per acre.
There are three periods in the beet /.
CD terminating period mp until the (.
plant has formed four leaves, avoid /
IRRIGATION here If possible; (2) grow
ing period during which the form and /
the size OF the beet is developed. last /
ing about two months During this /
time the beets demand considerable +
water but can be easily injured by an /
excess. A dropping leaf dark in color I
is indication OF need OF water; go /
sugar storing period OF about 100 DAYS /
the bccts require little il any moist /
ure then and il irrigated at this time .
are apt to start second growth
Cav and loan soils require two TO .
four irrigations When the soil con /
tains sufficient moisture to germlnate 4
the CROP the water should be withheld /
as long as ~ossble to force the plant 4
to throw out deep root system
After the first irrigation, damp soil /
is REQUIRED. If during the second stage /
the soil becomes too dry the roots VIII |
become spongy. Repeated cultivation |
is necessary. During hot days evapor-
alton is very rapid and the leaves may /
wilt but this is no sign that the beets |
need water unless the leaves are wllted |
early the next morning after chance |
to recuoerate during the night This /
happening two days in succession is
positive proof of the water deficiency |
a sort of general. although indefinite |
rule is to stop irrigation when the |
bectS commence to turn yellow and !
ripen.
Land in the spring often requires |
an irrigation before sowing the seed |
. and this is done in case there is not |
enough moisture in the ground to
keep the beets growing six to eight |
weeks. Tight soils may be irrigated |
before blowing, but heavy soils as
clay should be irrigated as early in
the spring as possible After the weeds
have been DESTROYED by narrowing. |
then pack the SOL to give level seed |
bed and insures strong termination. |