36 BULLETIN 995, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



SUITABLE SOIL. 



As previously noted, a suitable soil, together with a satisfactory 

 subsoil, is one of the first requisites in the production of sugar beets. 

 Although soil is not usually classed as a part of the farming equip- 

 ment, it is in fact a very essential part. If the soil is very sandy or 

 extremely rocky, it is not probable that it would pay to undertake 

 the growing of sugar beets. Certain conditions of soil may be 

 changed or modified by proper cultural methods, so that an other- 

 wise unfavorable soil condition may be changed to a sufficiently fa- 

 vorable condition to enable the farmer to produce a satisfactory crop 

 of beets : for example, a hard subsoil may sometimes be broken up 

 in such a manner that a sufficiently deep soil for the production of 

 beets is produced. Again, an infertile soil due to lack of humus, to a 

 scarcity of lime, or to improper crop rotation, may be remedied at 

 a small cost and an otherwise unproductive soil rendered productive. 

 As already noted, a soil containing an excess of moisture or one in 

 which the water table is too near the surface may be made productive 

 by proper drainage. It is apparent, therefore, that soil, from the 

 standpoint of equipment, may be a permanent limiting factor, which 

 in some cases can not be overcome sufficiently to enable the farmer 

 to produce a satisfactory crop of beets, while, on the other hand. 

 this part of the farmer's equipment may be modified in many cases 

 by proper treatment and the barrier to sugar-beet production re- 

 moved. This part of the farm equipment, however, like work stock, 

 implements, and labor, is just as essential for the production of 

 other crops as for the production of sugar beets. 



IMPLEMENTS. 



Many of the implements used in sugar-beet growing are the same 

 as those used in the production of other crops, though some special 

 implements are necessaiw in order to grow sugar beets successfully : 

 this is especially true of the drill shown in Plate I, figure 1, and the 

 cultivator, Plate IV, figure 1. 



Drills and cultivators. — Sugar beets are grown in rows about 20 

 inches apart, and there is a special drill for the planting of sugar- 

 beet seed. There are several sugar-beet drills on the market 

 which seem to be fairly satisfactory. In some localities the farmers 

 own their beet drills, and in others they are owned by the sugar 

 companies and rented to the farmers at a small charge per acre. 

 Most of the drills made for planting sugar-beet seed are so con- 

 structed that they will plant four rows at a time, as shown in Plate I. 

 figure 1. Likewise, the cultivator is especially adapted to sugar-beet 

 work, and will cultivate four rows corresponding to the drill. This 

 is very important, as will be noted by those who have had experi- 

 ence in using a cultivator in such narrow rows. In planting four 



