The Raymer enterprise., 1914-03-05
ABOUT beet GROWING
SUGAR BEETs WILL GROW ON
ANY GOOD, WELL DRAINED SOIL.
Even So-Called Muck Soils Will Pro.
duee Good Beets, If Properly
Worked.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

HSttsr PioFiuNu hAS 80
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 re
emphasized in a new bulletin issued
by the L. 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 II 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 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 mosture-holdng capsc,
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 10 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
ti0ns
For the retention of sufficient moist
ufe for crop production the supply ol
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
nfe for the needs OF the plants but il
will permit the air to circulate
through 1t and enable the soil organ
isms 10 thrive and multiply, thereby
liberating an abundance of PLAN
food.
The nature of the subsoil has al
important bearing upon the selection
of soil for sugar beet growing. Hard
pan subsoils should be avoided, espe
claily If they are so near the surface
that they will interfere with tht
proper growth and development o.
the roots. Likewise, the very porou:
or gravelly subsoils will not give tht
best results with sugar beets In gen
eral, if a soil has been producing gooC
crops Of corn. potatoes. etc. 1t vii
produce good beets provided it re
cetyes the proper preparation and cul
tivation. In selecting n field for sugal
heets it is advisable, therefore, TO not,
the kind of soil and its condition. es
pecially with reference to drainage
and humus, the kind and quality G
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 odds yer.
materially to the cost of GROWN,
beets The beet field must be KEEP
free from weeds il one expects L
obtain anything like satisfactory re
suits. 1t is sometimes claimed that /;
beet crop is of great advantage il
freeing field from weeds. This |,
true If the ground is properly han
| died, but one should see to il that no
too large a percentage of the profiti
of the crop rs consumed in fightin,
the weeds, a condition which may b,
avoided by careful attention to tn,
preceding crops with respect to weet
growth.
An average temperature OF abou
TO- f. during the growing season will
usually give the best results in suga
content of the beets. Spring weathe
has much to do with the success O
failure of sugar beet crop. A lat
spring freeze following a favorable
period for planting will frequently de
stroy young plants. A well-draine,
soil rich in humus will tend to offse
this to some extent
Cool nights and moderately warn
days in the latter part of summer an,
in the fall are most favorable for tn,
Radium Trust Gets Gateway Fields.