Irrigation and Drainage 



137 



vary with a number of factors, the most important of 

 which are the depth and texture of the soil. A light 

 irrigation of one to two inches would be ample for a 

 shallow sandy soil, whereas five or six inches might well 

 be given a deep loam or clay. It must be kept in mind 

 that the beet is a deep-rooted plant and that suflBcient 

 moisture should be added to moisten the land as deeply 

 as the roots penetrate. Where the soil is suitable, a few 

 rather heavy irrigations have given better results than 

 many small ones. The reverse is true for potatoes. 



Relation of irrigation to size, shape, and quality of beets. 

 (Figs. 14-21.) 



Many tests have been made to determine the effect of 

 irrigation water on the nature of the beets. These tests 



Fio. 15. — Effect of irrigation at different stages on yield of beets and 

 tops. Utah. 



