Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-03-06

storage OF sugar in the beets. The
great danger from extreme cold in the
fall is that the beets may be frozen in
the ground This sometimes occurs,
and causes considerable loss to the
grower. Every grower should aim to
get his beets out. and, II necessary.
sliced, before freezing weather sets in.
II the roots themselves freeze, no
great amount of damage will result,
provided they remain frozen until
they are worked through the mill, but
If they alternately freeze and thaw,
they will soon blacken. decay and be-
come worthless for sugar-making pur-
poses.
Sugar Beet Has Valuable sy-Products.
The by-products of the beet field
and sugar mill. If properly handled.
may form a valuable asset to the
beet grower. Many farmers sell the
beet tops for cash price ranging
from $3.50 to S. per acre. If farmer
does this he is the loser. The tops
are of greater value to him as stock
food, and, besides, If he allows the
tops to leave his farm, he loses their
value as manure.
The most economical way is to
gather the tops into piles soon after
they wilt. After they have cured in
the piles they should be hauled to the
feed yard, where they should be fed
in properly-constructed racks to avoid
waste. The manure resulting from
this feeding should be hauled to the
field, spread evenly and plowed I'M
der. If the tops were free from dis
ease, the manure can be profitably ap-
piled to the ground to be used for tn
next crop of beets. However, If any
disease. especially leaf-spot or crown
rot, was noticeable on the beet leaves
and crowns, the manure should be
used only on the ground that is not to
be put into beets for two years or
more; or, better. the wilted tops
should be put into the silo. where all
leaf-spot spores will be killed.
Another 5y-product of the sugar
beet which makes excellent stock food
is the beet pulp. This is the refuse
that remains after the beet roots
have been sliced and the sugar ex.
tracted. AS stock food it may be
used as green pulp or it may be dried.
The pulp is prepared for the drier by
having the excess water pressed out,
after which it is subjected either to
direct heat or steam heat until it is
apparently dry. 1t may be dried by
itself or 1t may have molasses or 9TH
er material mixed with it to improve
its feeding value.
The pulp either green or dried, how
ever, is not balanced ration, and
should be fed with other material fur
nising protein. The dried pulp will
keep almost Indefinitely If stored in a
dry place. The wet pulp will keep for
several months even when piled on
the ground in the open.
The third important by-product of
the sugar beet is the waste lime. This
has considerable value II used to cor.
is well known that a soil should be
neutral or slightly alkaline to produce
the best results. Lime can combine
with injurious acids that develop in
soils and render them neutral. IT.,
therefore, soil is inclined to be acid,
an application of lime will be benefi-
cial. Ordinarily an application of 500
to 1000 pounds of waste lime per acre
will correct the acidity and otherwise
improve the soil. Any finely-divided
or air-slaked lime will serve this pur-
pose. but the waste lime may usually
be had for the hauling. 1t is, there
fore. an inexpensive remedy. Heavy
soils which tend to become too com.
pact, are improved by the use of lime.
The value of lime has never been
fully realized. and it should come into
more general use to improve soil con-
ditions. In Europe it has an actual
money value not only for farmers who
purchase large quantities of it. but for
manufacturers OF commercial fertil-
izer. who use it as filler for their
goods.