THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 87 



ble matter. The results were so marked that the exact row of the subsoiled field 

 could bo told, because of its superior excellence. The stalks on the unsubsoiled land 

 were badly dried up and contained no ears, while those on subsoiled land were large, 

 green, and produced a fair yield. Such results are encouraging, and show that with 

 very little extra expense good crops can be raised with less rainfall than is generally 

 supposed. If the effect is not apparent the first season, it makes itself felt in the 

 course of two or three years, the reason being that if very little rain falls after sub- 

 soiling, the small amount of moisture sinks rapidly into the soil and is retained there 

 until the plant roots need it. After the practice has been started, the excess of wa- 

 ter beyond the demands of the soil continues. Subsoiling is especially adapted to 

 Nebraska, because the annual rainfall is less than in most arable portions of the coun- 



A HAND PLANTER FOR BEET SEEDS. 



Smaller drills like the one Illustrated liave been used with satisfacl Ion, but th IB new No. 8 drill 1* 

 still better and larger, while so simple as to insure the most even seeding and covering. It 

 can be regulated to drop any desired number or welirht of seeds, at varying 

 distances apart, or in hills ; is equipped with marker. 



try. Added to this is a very dry atmosphere, and periods of extreme heat accompa- 

 nied by high winds. The following conclusions were reached for Nebraska : Subsoil 

 plowing, although conserving moisture, does not produce it and is therefore not a 

 substitute for irrigation where rainfall is too small to produce crops. Where the sub- 

 soil is hard, subsoiling is recommended ; when loose it is not profitable and may be 

 injurious. Do not subsoil when wet, as there is danger of puddling the soil, thus 

 leaving it in a worse condition than before. Ground subsoiled in the fall has an am- 

 ple opportunity of absorbing the greatest rainfall. Subsoiling in spring may be detri- 

 mental in extreme dry weather, as the water is partially removed from the young 

 plants by the absorption of the dry bottom soil. 



PREPARATION OF SEED BED. 



Land that has been fall plowed must be harrowed as soon as the frost is out of 

 the ground and the soil is dry enough to prevent sticking. This work will level the 



