16 BULLETIN 995, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



and uniformly moist before the seed is planted, as beet seed will not 

 germinate satisfactorily in a cold or unevenly moistened bed. A 

 few of the stronger plants may come up in the moist spots if the 

 seed bed is not too cold, but the stand will be uneven and far from 

 perfect. It is advisable, therefore, to see that the soil conditions are 

 right before planting. Generally there is a planting period of sev- 

 eral weeks during which the seed may be placed in the ground 

 with good results. It has been observed that late plantings will 

 frequently give better results than very early plantings. It is not 

 advisable to plant in soil that is too dry or too wet. If the soil 

 is too dry and irrigating water is available it is best to irrigate 

 before planting: if irrigating water is not available and the indi- 

 cations are favorable for rain it will usually be advisable to wait 

 until rain has fallen. If the ground is too wet when the seed is 

 planted, there is danger of the seed rotting and thereby failing to 

 produce a stand. 



Winds. — In some localities wind is an important factor affecting 

 the stand of sugar beets. Aside from the effect of wind upon seed 

 formation, as previously noted, wind is effective in two ways in 

 injuring the stand of beets. If the soil is sandy, strong winds may 

 shift the sand so that the seed is covered too deeply and the young- 

 plants can not get through to the light, and if the beet seedlings 

 are up the wind may carry the fine particles of sand against the 

 tender plants with such force that they are destroyed or severely 

 injured. This frequently occurs in level areas where strong winds 

 prevail in early spring. The destructive effect of winds may be 

 overcome, in part, at least, by drilling in the seed at right angles to 

 the direction of the prevailing winds and by ridging the ground 

 slightly between the rows. 



Crust. — In many sugar-beet localities the soil has a strong tendency 

 to crust if it is moistened and then quickly dried. Showers some- 

 times fall shortly after the seed is planted, followed by sunshine and 

 drying winds, and in cases where the soil has a tendency to bake a 

 very hard crust will frequently form, which will either prevent the 

 young plants from coming through to the light or will cause a very 

 uneven stand. The crust formed will vary in thickness, depending 

 upon the nature of the soil and the conditions of the weather. If the 

 crust is thin and the young plants have not been caught in it. a light 

 harrow or a roller will sometimes put the surface in shape so that the 

 plants will break through. If the crust is thick and the plants are 

 embedded in it. there is frequently no remedy except to harrow the 

 ground and replant. A crust may be prevented or greatly retarded 

 by an application of lime before or immediately after plowing and 

 by keeping the ground well supplied with humus. 



