Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1917-06-24

oregon Agricultural College, Sor-
Wallis, Oregon. June 2S.--A large
part OF the sugar consumed in the
United States is imported. Sugar
beets are grown largely under irri-
cation and form good cash crop
and a cultivated crop on the irrigated
farm. The finished product is con-
centrated for distribution at distant
markets. The present food condi-
tious offer favorable opportunity for
extending the acreage Of this crop in
the irrigated sections wherever the
average growing season is sufficiently
long. Proper methods OF cultiva-
tion, irrigation and crop rotation are
necessary 10 make this a permanent
ly profitable and staple field crop in
a locality,
A deep. rather heavy loan soil
with good humus content and ma
tural drainage is very suitable for
the sugar beets under irrigation. but
any silt loan or sand loan OF fair
denth and fair water retaining capa-
city and fertility can be made to
produce a profitable crop IL other
conditions are favorable. An even
topography or an even sloping sur
face Is desirable and proper levelins
OF each land or each run to a uni
form slope is necessary for most sue,
cessful IRRIGATION.
Sander soils win require more
light and frequent Irrigation. Fine
sand may retain the one-inch rain
fall in one foot Of soil. while heavy
lean may retain one and one-half
inches of rainfall in one foot of soil
If quite dry at the time the rain
fall or IRRIGATION occurs. Generally
from six 60 IL inches depth win be
a reasonable amount to apply dur
ing the season in western or south
ern Oregon,
From various experiments on
southern Oregon soils made, part
of them near Talent in cooperation
with the Talent experimental station.
and part near Grants Pass, made in
cooperation with County Agricultur-
ist C. D. Thompson. the following
results have been noted. q.
In the Grants Pass district the
amount of irrigation water used In
the experiments were respectively;
6 in. 10is in. and 261s' in. The
yields per acre in sugar beets we're
respectively 11.2 tons, IL tons, and
12.4 tons. The percentage Of sue
rose was about 16k per cent for
the first and third experiments and
1s1s per cent for the second expert
ment.
In the Talent district, the amount
of water used were respectively: 2
in. 1o.1 in. and las in The yields
per acre we're 2S tons, 81 tons and
SO tons respectively.
These experiments prove that the
use of too much water is not only
waste OF valuable water but lessons
the yield in tons and the sugar con
tent Of the beet.
Irrigation before seeding may be
necessary in a dry season to insnrt
good gernination. With the soil vel
stored with moisture at seed time
further early irrigation should be
avoided for it causes over develop
ment of the tops and short, turnip
shaped roots After the tops are
largely developed, the roots are max
ing their maximum development ant
this is the time when the rop de
mands the most moisture. The neeC
of irrigation will be indicated by
larkening of the foliage. and by fail
ure to recover fully from whiting
during the night time. The mois
ture content of the soil about the
roots is another valuable guide a!
to the time to irrigate and also th'
evaporation from water free sur
face can be made valuable guide
in Judging the drying effect o. The
weather.
Usually one or two irrigations %il
be required on the heavier soils and
in southern Oregon and on the light
er soils two or three lrrigations may
be required. The number OF irriga'
tions will depend on the total amount
and this will vary with tine water
retaining capacity Of the SOIL The
amount to apply at each irrigation
should be in proportion to the usaAiC
water capacity Of the soil On heavy
loan soils depth OF four inche.
over the surface may e applied ~
one irrigation, while on the lighter
soils two or three inches depth at
an irrigation A better sugar beet s.
secured BY having the growing sea.
son extended little by irrigation +.
secure full development Of the plant
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