The Colorado statesman., 1914-03-07
ABOUT BEET GROWING
SUGAR BEETS WILL GROW ON
ANY GOOD, WELL DRAINED SOIL.
duce Good eeets, If Properly
Worked.
western Newspaper Union News Service.


properly worked will produce satisfac-
tory sugar beets, provided the eli
matte conditions are favorable. Be
sides being well drained, the soil
should be able to hold sufficient
amount of moisture. Even the So
called muck soils will produce good
beets if they are we'll drained and
properly worked. These facts a re
emphasized in a new bulletin issued
by the U. S. Department of Agricul-
ture entitled "Sugar-Beet Growing
Under Humid Conditions"
The new bulletin, which may be
had free on application to the depart
ment, recommends the following
measures to beet growers:
Select the field for sugar beets with
reference to the quality of the sur
face and subsoils, the condition of
drainage, and their fitness to follow
the preceding crop.
Plow thoroughly and deeply in the
fall if possible.
Make the seed bed firm below as
well as near the surface.
Plant in the spring as soon as the
soil and weather conditions are right.
| Use plenty of seed to insure a good
stand, and do not plant too deep.
Hold the moisture in contact with
the seed by the use of the press
wheels and the roller.
| Cultivate as soon as the rows can
! be seen, but do not throw the dirst
| over the beets.
Block and thin the beets just as
soon as they are large enough to
| handle.
Space with reference to the
strength and moisture-holding capGc-
| ity OF the soil.
In thinning, aim to leave the strong
est and best beets.
Rotate with other crops to improve
the soil condition and to eliminate
| pests.
Keep plenty of live stock to utilize
the beet tops and other feed and to
| supply stable manure.
| In harvesting the beets see that
they are all gathered, properly topped
and as free as possible from dirt
Cover the beets as soon as topped
| to prevent evaporation.
! Utilize beet tops, pulp and lime
with view to improving soil condi
| tions
For the retention of sufficient moist
| ure for crop production the supply OF
humus plays an important part. A
soil that is well drained and at the
same time properly supplied with hu
mus will not only hold enough moist
ure for the needs of the plants but il
will permit the air to circulate
! through 1t and enable the soil organ
isms to thrive and multiply, thereby
liberating an abundance of plant
food.
The nature of the subsoil has an
important bearing upon the selection
of soil for sugar beet growing. Hard
pan subsois should be avoided, espe
cially If they are so near the surface
that they will interfere with the
proper growth and development oi
the roots Likewise, the very porous
or gravelly subsoils will not give the
best results with sugar beets. In gen
eral, if a soil has been producing good
crops OF corn, potatoes, etc, it will
produce good beets provided it re
ceives the proper preparation and cul
tivation. In selecting 4 field for/sugal
beets it is advisable, therefore, to note
the kind of soil and its condition, es
pecially with reference to drainage
and humus the kind and quality oi
the preceding crops, and the nature
and location of the subsoil.
The field selected should be reas
onably free from weeds. since ex
treme foulness of ground adds very
materially to the cost of growing
beets. The beet field must be kept
free from weeds if one expects to
obtain anything like satisfactory re
suits. 1t is sometimes claimed that q
beet crop is of great advantage in
freeing field from weeds. This is
true If the ground is properly han
died, but one should see to it that moi
too large percentage of the profits
of the crop is consumed in fighting
the weeds, condition which may be
avoided by careful attention to the
preceding crops with respect to weet
growth.
An average temperature of about
70' F. during the growing season will
usually give the best results in sugar
content of the beets. Spring weather
has much to do with the success OIL
failure of sugar beet crop. A late
spring freeze following a favorable
period for planting will frequently de
stroy young plants. A well-drainec
soil rich in humus will tend to offset
this to some extent
Cool nights and moderately warm
days in the latter part of summer an6
in the fall are most favorable for the
Radium Trust Gets Gateway Fields.
Grand Junction, Colo.-The Primos
Chemical Company of Newmire, Colo.
purchnSed ten c1airnc IN, rod;,x,. ~.