The Ordway new era., 1914-03-13
SUGAR Beet PRODUCTION ON IRRIGATED AREAS

stern Newspaper Union News Service.

Washington, d. C-Methods of cul-
ture for the sugar beet in the Central,
Western and Southwestern portions OF
the United States are dealt with in the
Department of Agricultures new bulle-
tin, Sugar Beet Growing Under Irri-
CATION" This Is the second bulletin
OF interest to sugar beet growers
which has teen issued recently. The
other was entitled: Sugar Beet
Growing Under Humid Conditions"
and was of interest more particularly
to the northern portion OF our coun-
try. where most Of the present sugar
beet crop Is grown.
While there is feeling of safety in
having an unlimited supply of water
for irrigation purposes, it must always
be remembered that irrigation costs
money and labor, says the govern
ment's investigator. Such precipita-
tion Of moisture then, as there is in
ocality should not be permitted to es-
cape from the soil with the idea that
more water can always be applied
when needed. All moisture that falls
upon the ground and Is received and
retained by the soil acts upon the
plant foods day after day and accomp-
fishes most for plant growth. Precipi-
tation is natures gift. and should
never be despised. The ground In irri-
gated sections where the sugar beet
plant ia grown should be plowed to
good depth in the fall and every effort
made to retain the moisture in the
soil from the time the previous crop is
harvested until the beet crop is laid
( by. rs
Much depends upon the condition of
the soil as to whether or not it is able
to receive and retain the moisture. A
large number of showers may show
several inches OF rainfall in the aggre-
gate. and yet they may have accomp-
lished little, If any, good SO far as
crop production is concerned, because
they failed to moisten the ground to
sufficient depth. On the other hand,
one or more heavy. dashing rains may
show satisfactory total rainfall for
the season and at the same time be en-
tirely unsatisfactory from the stand
point of crop production. Indeed, such
rains may lie more Injurious than
beneficial. because of packing and
crusting the ground. The record of the
total rainfall for season, or even
month by month. is Of little value un-
less we know the nature and amount
of each precipitation. The point OF
most vital importance is to have the
ground in condition to receive as much
as possible OF the moisture that falls
upon 1t and then to make every ef-
fort to retain that moisture in the
soil.
Points 10 Bs Considered.
Other points to be considered by
growers of sugar beets under irriga-
tion are the following:
Sugar beet soil should be selected
with reference to its fertility, its phys
ical condition, its previous cropping.
and its ability to be properly drained
and irrigated.
The seed and root beds should he
SO prepared that they will be fine.
firm. moist and well aerated. with
sufficiently lumpy mulch on the sur
face to prevent blowing.
Beet ground should never be
flooded after the seed is planted.
The soil should be well supplied
with humus.
.. Beet seed should be planted in moist
soil. but not more than one and one
half inches deep.
Beets should be spaced and thinned
just as soon as they are large enough
to handle.
Beets should be cultivated and hoed
often enough to destroy all weeds and
to keep the entire surface of the
ground covered with mulch.
Beets should always be rotated with
other crops In order to keep the soil
in good tilth and free from pests.
Live stock. especially dairy cows,
should always be found on beet farms.
The by-products of the sugar beet
and OF the sugar mill are worthy of
careful attention. These are described
in detail In both the newly issued bull
letins on the sugar beet.
Consider Temperature and Winds.
Besides the precipitation. two I'M
portant climatic factors to be consid-
cred are the temperature and winds.
Both high and low temperatures have
a direct bearing upon the growth or
quality of the beets. A study of the
most successful sugar-beet localities
OF the world leads to the conclusion
that beets of the best quality can not
be grown where the average tempera-
ture for the growing season is much
above 7OoF This does not mean that
sugar beets can not be successfully
grown in warm countries or in warm
sections OF country. but 1t does
mean that in such localities beets
should be produced during the cooler
portion of the year, which is now
done successfully In certain portions
Of our own country. It is possible
that beets adapted to higher tempera.
lures may be produced by selection
and breeding, and In this way the pres