THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



had extended from hill to hill and interlaced. 

 Some of the principal lateral roots were found 

 to be only 2% inches from the surface at 6 

 inches from the hill. This root development 

 indicates the necessity of shallow cultivation 

 of the crop, and this was confirmed in experi- 

 ments with deep and shallow cultivation, the 

 results showing a decided advantage for the 

 shallow cultivation of potatoes unbilled. It 

 was also shown that late potatoes root more 

 freely and more deeply than early ones, and as 

 a result will not stand as close planting as the 

 early varieties. When the hills are about 3 

 feet apart each way, the soil is very fully oc- 

 cupied by the roots to a depth of 3 feet. 



SUGAR-BEET ROOT SYSTEM. Sugar-beet 

 plants examined by the North Dakota Station 

 at maturity, or 133 days after planting the 

 seed, presented a deep root extending almost 

 perpendicularly downward into the ground, 

 the lower part being quite small and thread- 

 like and reaching to a depth of more than 3 

 feet, and the lateral roots starting 4 or 5 inches 



80 



