ARID AGRICULTURE. 



209 



FERTILIZING 



FLOWING 



IRRIGATING 

 LAND 



HARROWING 



LAND 



ROLLING 



early spring. The manure should be plowed un- 

 der in the fall if possible, even if the ground is 

 very dry. It is better to sharpen the plow share 

 for each acre and get the land plowed deep, 

 eight to twelve inches is best, but if the ground 

 has previously been plowed five or six inches, not 

 more than two inches of the under soil should be 

 turned to the surface, because it is poor in veget- 

 able matter and fertility, so the young beet will 

 not get an early start and vigorous growth. 



After the ground is plowed and harrowed, it 

 should, if possible, be irrigated in the fall. The 

 moisture left in the ground from this irrigation 

 will be sufficient to germinate the seed the fol- 

 lowing spring. The ground will be pulverized 

 by the frost and when harrowed in the spring 

 will be in the best condition for the reception of 

 the seed. The ground should be leveled so it 

 may be easily irrigated. The work done in get- 

 tin o- the ground in the best possible condition is 

 profitably spent. ~No amount of work afterwards 

 will make up for the lack of care in this. 



Some roll the ground before, and some after 

 seeding. This is usually a detriment to the 

 crop. The harrow marks should be left in the 

 field. The soil is generally left loose on top 

 and evaporation is prevented by this earth mulch. 

 The spring winds will not gather up the sand and 

 fine particles of earth and slide them along the 



