84 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



horse cultivation; it will not do to plow the stalks under, however, as it cannot be 

 done effectually, the cultivator-knives bringing them back to the surface once more, 

 and at the same time dragging along with them more or less of the small beet plants. 

 The best way is to remove the mold-board from the plow, which will enable you to 

 loosen the roots without turning the cornstalks under. Then gather them up with a 

 hay rake into piles and after burning as much as possible haul off the remainder. 



In many soils in California, a sour clay is brought to the surface by deep plowing, 

 which is injurious to the beet because of its acidity. This should be neutralized by 

 the use of about two tons of lime per acre broadcasted on before harvesting. In Cal- 

 ifornia, the spring cultivation of the plowed land is done with an implement fur- 

 nished with lone, narrow teeth that reach to the bottom of the plowing. 



MORE ABOUT SUBSOILING. 



This work is so important, especially in drouthy regions, that more detailed dis- 

 cussion of it is in order. 



Subsoiling consists of a loosening or a breaking up of 8 to 20 or more inches 

 of the soil below the depth of ordinary plowing. In true subsoiling the lower 

 layers of soil are not thrown out on top. When the prairies of the west 

 were first plowed, it was sometimes thought desirable to break the sod 

 very shallow; then by following in the furrow, with the plow so made as to 

 throw the comparatively mellow second furrow on top of the first, a layer 

 of loose ground was obtained in which seed could be planted. This so-called 

 subsoiling is in reality nothing but deep plowing, and is practicable only in a new 

 country, or in the breaking up of meadows or pastures which have an exceedingly 

 compact turf. In practice, land to be subsoiled the first time is plowed to the accus- 

 tomed depth. The subsoil plow follows in the furrow of the ordinary plow, and is 

 run about eight inches deep. If it is thought desirable, the work can be still more 

 completely accomplished by subsoiling cro&swise, running the subsoil plow the sec- 

 ond time a little deeper than during the first operation. The entire subsoil to a 

 depth of 12 to 14 inches, depending upon the depth of the first plowing, is thoroughly 

 loosened, and so broken up that plant roots can easily penetrate it and rainfall is 

 readily absorbed. When the same land is subsoiled again, run the plow about four 

 inches deeper. 



The main benefits derived from this practice are: 1, The upper layers of soil are 

 broken up and placed in a condition to absorb and hold a maximum amount of water. 

 2, Natural rainfall is taken up anl retained until needed by the growing crops. 3, 

 Heat and air are enabled to permeate the subsoil and render available the plant food 

 contained therein. 4, The loosened ground acts as a vast reservoir for storing soil 

 moisture. 5, Stirring the hard subsoil breaks up the capillary tubes and prevents 

 wasteful evaporation. 6, During the wet season the openings made by the subsoil 

 plow allow the excess of water to escape to lower levels. 7, Plant roots are given a 

 better opportunity of development. 8, Such crops as sugar beets, turnips, rutaba- 

 gas, sweet potatoes, etc, develop more completely under ground, resulting in a higher 

 grade vegetable. If the surface of the field is kept loose by shallow culture, the loose 

 layer will act as a mulch and greatly aid in retaining moisture. Experience and ob- 



