THE BEET-SUGAR INDUSTRY IN 1920. 37 



rows at a time many deviations from a straight line will occur in 

 each of the four rows, which can, therefore, be followed more readily 

 with a 4-row cultivator with less damage to the plants. The beet 

 cultivators are usually equipped with various implements for stir- 

 ring the soil, destroying weeds, and forming a mulch, depending upon 

 the soil conditions and the size of the beets. 



Plows. — The ordinary walking or riding plow can be used in turn- 

 ing the soil in the preparation of the seed bed. The 2-way plow is 

 well adapted to the sugar-beet crop, for the reason that it produces 

 neither back furrow nor dead furrows. This is especially important 

 in the irrigated areas. In some localities the disk plow is frequently 

 used, although the ordinary molclboard plow is in most common use in 

 sugar-beet areas. The advantage of the disk plow for deep plow- 

 ing is that it enables one to stir the soil to a good depth if the plow 

 is properly constructed and adjusted, without bringing too much 

 raw soil to the surface. The plows in use vary from the walking 

 moldboard plow through various types of sulky plows to the disk 

 plow with its numerous variations. In some types of soil it is espe- 

 cially desirable to give an occasional deep plowing. 



Best results are generally obtained by fall plowing for sugar 

 beets. The farm-to-farm survey as well as the experience and obser- 

 vation of the Office of Sugar-Plant Investigations indicates that fair 

 results may be obtained by spring plowing, provided the soil has been 

 previously in good tilth. 



Harrows. — In preparing a seed bed for any crop the disk harrow 

 is a valuable implement. It is frequently used to advantage before 

 the ground is plowed. When so used it puts the surface of the 

 ground in such condition that holes or spaces are nowhere left 

 when the ground is turned with the plow. The disk harrow is used 

 sometimes in breaking up lumps or clods after the plowing has been 

 done ; however, if the ground has been plowed when in good condi- 

 tion and has been properly treated after plowing there will be no 

 large lumps or clods for the disk harrow to break. In case weeds 

 start before the time for planting the sugar-beet seed the disk harrow 

 is sometimes useful in destroying them. In some instances in which 

 beets have been followed by beets good results have been obtained 

 by omitting the plowing and simply disking and harrowing in the 

 preparation of the seed bed in the early spring. The proper prepara- 

 tion after the ground is plowed consists in harrowing, preferably 

 with a spike-tooth harrow or other form of this implement, which 

 simply stirs the surface of the ground and makes a moderately fine 

 mulch. It is a more or less common practice to harrow at the end 

 of each half day or, at the latest, at the end of each day the ground 

 just plowed. This is a practice to be especially recommended in cases 

 of spring plowing, since it has a tendency to hold the moisture in 



