The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-03-02
Narrowing Beneficial

AO"hAS~ AShSASASaA
Owing to the severe frosts early
last fall, very little fall blowing was
done on beet lands in either Utah or
Idaho. In view of this l am making
a few suggestions relative to spring
preparation, which | am confident
will prove beneficial if properly fol-
lowed.
During the last four or five years
our beet growers have demonstrated
that more tonnage can be grown on
heavy lands by the following surface
preparation than by spring blowing,
because where heavy land is spring
plowed the soil is quite cold and
somewhat soggy, and it is very diff
ticult to get a fine surface or seed
bed; and before the soil gets suf-
ficiently warm to SprOut the seed it
has dried out. Then, if heavy storm
comes shortly after the seed is plant
ed and before it is up, on heavy soils
spring plowed, it will be likely to
form crust over the seed So that
it cannot get thru, thus injuring the
stand very materially while with
surface preparation this is not likely
to occur.
Therefore, would like to suggest
that where farmers have heavy soil
which they expect to plant to beets
they use the following method:
First, take a fine tooth harrow,
riding it and running it as deep as
possible; following with float thus
forming a fine mulch on top and pre-
venting the land from crusting. Then
take a spring tooth harrow six foot
in width providing the farmer has
one. Putting four horses on it, run
ming it the same way as the rows
will run as deep as possible, at least
three or four inches.
If the farmer has not spring
tooth harrow it would pay him to
get one or two or three smaller
farmers might group together and
purchase one.
Next, follow Immediately behind
the spring tooth harrow with fine
tooth harrow so as to keep the land
worked down to retain the moisture,
and not allowing any clods to form.
This surface preparation of the
Dull 10 WHY W Aohu
that was planted to beets or potatoes
last year.
The soil should then be worked in
the same method crosswise, running
the spring tooth harrow an inch or
two deeper if possible. Then go over
it again with a roller or land leveler
to get the surface firm enough for
planting.
Just before planting the la,ld
should be narrowed with fine tooth
harrow crosswise, or in the opposite
direction to which the beets are to
be planted.
If the land has been used to feed
sheep on land there is any straw on
the surface it should be removed
first, leaving only the manure. If
manure it will be necessary to spring
pillow it, to obtain good results.
Where the soil has been top dressed
with fine manure, the surface pre-
paration as above outlined will be
preferable on heavy or reasonably
heavy soils. OF course, light sandy
soil may be successfully spring plow-
ed and prepared for beets.
1t has been thoroly demonstrated
that heavy soils, thoroly surface pre-
pared, have yielded two to three
tons more to the acre than with
either fall or spring blowing. We
have tested this method thoroly for
four or five years, blowing one-half
of field in the fall and preparing
the other half in the spring as out
lined above, and know whereof we
speak. Now that beets are worth
81 per ton, farmers will readily see
the advantage of surface preparation
of heavy soils. There is also quite
a saving in labor, it makes it possible
for the farmer to prepare his soil
more quickly, and he is much more
certain of good stand of beets.
Where farmer does not have
spring tooth harrow, and does not
feel like joining with his neighbors
in getting one, splendid results have
been obtained with a good steel
frame, reasonably fine tooth harrow.
well sharpened, putting plenty of
weight on it, narrowing with it first