363 



the planting of apple and peach is conclud- 

 ed , go over and cut back the growth of the 

 apple one-third to one-half, cutting the 

 peach ba^ck, all side branches, to one and 

 two buds of the center stalk. Head back 

 the center stalk to two and three feet. 

 Pear, plum and cherry should not be cut 

 back except to take out broken limbs. 



HOW TO GROW SUGAR BEETS. 



The Denver Field and Farm publishes 

 the following short and succinct article 

 telling how to grow sugar beets under ir- 

 rigation : 



Sugar beet ground must be new ground 

 or if old it should lie fallow a year and be 

 worked all summer to kill the weeds, 

 which will save half the trouble of culti- 

 vation the following year when beets are 

 growing on it. Beets grown among weeds 

 are worthless for the factory. Beets 

 should be planted in rows three feet apart. 

 When large enough to transplant they 

 should be thinned where too thick and 

 put in where too far apart, so that they 

 will stand six to eight inches apart in the 

 row. 



For this part of the work the factory 

 company provides an overseer to direct 

 the work who has practical experience, as 

 it is a particular job and if done wrong 

 the plants will die. In three days after 



transplanting, the ground must be irri- 

 gated. Be careful that the water does 

 not reach the stems of the plants or they 

 will sunburn and die. Then irrigate at 

 least every two weeks. Cultivate after 

 each irrigation, shoving the loose dirt 

 well up under the leaves, so that the tops 

 of the beets will not be exposed, for all 

 that stand above ground are worthless ab 

 the mill. The seeding in New Mexico 

 should be done the first week in April. 

 The beets are ripe about the middle of 

 September. 



As soon as the leaves change color 

 during the last four weeks turn on the 

 water and let it trickle slowly through 

 the furrows day and night. Plow the 

 land away from the beets on one side of 

 the row and pull the beets out. All beets 

 that are cut by the plow or broken off 

 should be sent to the mill immediately. 

 The remainder may be stored in the field. 

 For this purpose clear off a place three 

 feet wide on the bottom and pile the beets 

 three or four feet high in triangular form 

 and cover with smutted straw, or rye 

 straw, which is better. Put as many 

 beets in a pile only as may be hauled to 

 the mill at one time. Arrange the tops 

 outward. Place a light covering of dirt 

 over the straw, leaving only a thin pro- 

 tection at the top so the beets will not 

 heat. 



