288 



IRRIGATION PRACTICE 



Rolling of the top soil, however, invariably causes a loss 

 of soil moisture, and it may be necessary for the beet- 

 growing sections to revise their practice in this particular. 

 If the soil is rolled, it should be followed immediately, if 

 possible, with a harrow to stir the top soil. Sugar beets 

 are always planted in rows, to permit of easy cultivation 





FIG. 75. Unloading sugar beets in factory bins. 



between the rows, which is usually done by horse power. 

 Cultivation, an essential factor in sugar-beet-growing 

 under irrigation, should be practised after each irrigation 

 and two to four times between successive irrigations. As 

 with other inter-tilled crops, the more frequent and 

 thorough the cultivation of the soil, the smaller the quan- 

 tity of water required for the production of the crop, and 

 the better the quality of the crop. 



