266 THE SOILS AND CROPS OF THE FARM. 



dustry in America will not reach its fullest develop- 

 ment until varieties have been produced by selection 

 and cultivation which are adapted to the conditions 

 of soil and climate of the country. 



Climate. — The proper climatic conditions are very 

 essential to the successful culture of the sugar beet. 

 These are so complex as not to be capable of predic- 

 tion with certainty in advance of trial. It has been 

 found in general that an average temperature of 70 

 degrees Fahrenheit during the months of June, July 

 and August, and a minimum rain- fall of two inches 

 per month during these months, is desirable. This 

 limits the area of profitable production east of the 

 one-hundredth meridian to an irregular strip whose 

 central portion lies mostly between the 42d and 44th 

 parallels of latitude. According to this standard 

 much of the Pacific States would be suited to the pro- 

 duction of sugar beets. 



These are not the only desirable conditions. Ex- 

 cess of rain in the autumn months is harmful. Early 

 approach of severe cold weather is undesirable. In 

 general, the comparatively dry and warm weather of 

 July and August ripens the beets before they have ob- 

 tained sufficient size, and upon the recurrence of 

 growing weather in the latter part of August and in 

 September the beets are apt to begin to grow again, 

 in doing which the stored-up sugar is used. 



{Soil. — The area limited by climate is still further 

 limited by the necessity of a proper soil. Depth of 

 soil is essential to either large yield or high sugar 

 content. The surface soil should be ten to twelve 

 inches deep and the subsoil should be porous and 

 either naturally or artificially well drained. The soil 



