220 CAMPBELL'S SOIL CULTURE MANUAL 



tration shows the wonderful growth. Aside from the 

 value which can be got from the beets for sugar there is 

 also the great value to be got from the feeding of the pulp. 

 Experiments thus far show that this value is considerable, 

 and later experiments may add much to our knowledge of 

 how to utilize it. At any rate it is certain that sugar beet 

 growing will be one of the great industries of the semi- 

 arid west for the next century, 



SUGAR BEET CULTURE UNDER IRRIGATION. 



The following is a conicse statement of the best methods 

 used in the successful raising of sugar beets under irrigation. 



Soil Always select your best land. Avoid using poor 

 land for growing beets. Also new ground should not be 

 selected as a good tonnage is rare under these conditions. 

 The ground should have been at least two years under 

 cultivation and if possible manured to some extent in the 

 fall. Stable manure is highly recommended as it will very 

 materially increase the tonnage. Never plant seed on 

 land that is sandy enough to blow. 



Plowing As the sugar beet plant derives its life from the 

 soil, deep plowing is urged as it gives the root plenty of room 

 to grow down and absorb nutriment. If possible in all cases 

 the plowing should be done in the fall and the land allowed 

 to remain rough all winter, airing the land thoroughly and 

 letting in the moisture. It also permits the land to slowly 

 settle and pack which will insure better germination. 



Levelling To facilitate the thorough irrigation of a 

 field, it is essential that the ground should be levelled as 

 well as possible so as to leave no low spots where water will 

 stand. To obtain the best and quickest results, it is wejl 

 to use a harrow and loosen the top soil, after which a floater 



