Sugar Beet Investigations for 1898. 



445 



and the soil moist then there would not be the imperative neces- 

 sity for beginning thinning early. If thinning be delayed until 

 there exists drought accompanied by hot weather the growth 

 of the plants may be serioush^ impaired, if the plants are not 

 entirely destroyed. 



Effect of subsoiling imynediately precediJig planti7ig. — In 1897 it 

 was thought that subsoiling the land immediatel}^ preceding 

 planting resulted injuriously to the growth of the beets. To 

 determine the effect of subsoiling under the conditions which 

 might prevail in 1898 plat No. 40 was selected as a suitable place 

 for the test. Immediately before planting, one-half of the plat 

 was subsoiled deeply, and the soil thoroughly loosened to a depth 

 of about 15 inches. Seven rows of beets each 109 feet long and 

 20 inches apart were planted respectively upon the half of the 

 plat subsoiled and upon the half not subsoiled. The result of 

 the experiment is shown in the following table : 



The seven rows which were subsoiled gave an increased yield 

 of nearly three tons per acre. The good results following sub- 

 soiling were without doubt due in part to the fact that the soil 

 was abundantly supplied with moisture during the early period 

 of growth. Before the severe drought of July the subsoil had 

 become sufficientl}^ compacted so that capillarity was restored 

 and the plants were enabled to draw moisture from below. Where 

 subsoiling is done the same season of planting it is important 

 that it be done early so that capillarity may be restored before 

 the advent of the usual summer drought. 



Test of varieties. — Several varieties of beet seed were sent here 

 from various sources with the request that we make a test. This 

 test was made on Plats 41 and 42 of the permanent series of 

 plats. The soil is quite uniform in these plats and all conditions 

 as to preparation, planting, tillage, etc., were alike. The result 

 of the variety test is shown by the following table : 



