Conditions for Growing Sugar-Beets 43 



Wind. 



In many beet-producing sections winds at certain sea- 

 sons are rather serious. This is particularly true with 

 spring winds that come about the time the seed is planted 

 or immediately before or after. Winds coming before the 

 seed is planted are likely to dry out the seed-bed so much 

 that it is necessary to plant the seed too deep in order to 

 find sufficient moisture. Winds about the time of plant- 

 ing may blow the seed out of the ground and make the 

 stand very irregular. When the young plants are coming 

 up, winds often cause injiu-y to the seedling by the cut- 

 ting action of shifting sand. Hot winds may also com- 

 pletely dry up the young plants even when sufficient water 

 is present deeper in the soil. 



The bad efTects of winds may be overcome in part by 

 a number of methods. Windbreaks, an abundant supply 

 of humus, plowing, cultivating, keeping the rows at right 

 angles to the direction of the wind, and the formation of 

 a mulch of small clods at the surface of the land all help. 

 Sometimes it is necessary to shift the period of seeding 

 in order that the plant will not be in a critical stage at 

 the time of regular winds. 



THE SOIL 



For the production of good sugar-beets, the soil should 

 be fertile, deep, and of a texture that is easy to work. 

 No particular kind of soil is absolutely necessary. Any 

 good soil adapted to the raising of general crops such as 

 potatoes, corn, and the small grains will also produce 

 beets, which are raised on soils of every texture ranging 



