BEETS FOR STOCK 179 



or as silage which are not yet fully determined, and which it needs 

 systematic experimentation to demonstrate. 



Varieties. Thus far California has relied upon European beet 

 seed. We have not yet brought into practice here the exact methods 

 of testing and selecting the "mother beets" for seed production which 

 are practiced in France and Germany. By this means the sugar- 

 contents have been increased and shape, thrift and other charac- 

 ters of the beet have been advanced. It is probable that California 

 will in due time develop local seed supplies of the highest quality, 

 but efforts in that direction have not yet succeeded. 



. Of the varieties chiefly used at the present time by the Cali- 

 fornia sugar factories the best information is to be had from the 

 managers who furnish to growers the seed which in their experience 

 yields the best results, and their contracts are conditioned upon the 

 use of the seed they furnish. 



BEETS AS FOOD FOR STOCK. 



All that has been said about the fitness of California soils and 

 climates to the growth of the sugar beet is also applicable to the 

 growth of beets for stock food. Early plantings of beets furnish 

 succulent food when the pastures yield but "dry feed," which is the 

 local name for grasses and clovers which make rich hay as they 

 stand in the field. Though this food is very nutritious, it is better 

 fitted for fattening purposes than for maintaining the milk-flow, 

 and for this reason it should be supplemented by succulent food. 

 By later planting of beets good supplies can also be provided for 

 the deficiency of pasture growth which occurs when the winter 

 happens to be colder or drier than usual. Thus, by planting from 

 February until June, or even later on moist bottom or irrigated 

 land, the stock feeder can have beets for his animals the year round. 



Stock beets are also useful as a succulent food for poultry. 

 By sowing in April or earlier, if local soil conditions admit, well- 

 grown beets can be had for the fowls by August, when it is well- 

 nigh impossible for them to find any wild verdure. They will help 

 themselves to the roots just as they come from the field. 



Preparation of the land is the same for stock beets as for sugar 

 beets. The plants must have wider spacing, both for the rows and 

 for individual plants, according to the size of the variety grown. 

 The long red mangel-wurzel, which frequently reaches a weight of 

 seventy pounds, and should average half that or more, needs room. 



