THE BEET-SUGAR INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES. 7 



country. Usually the grower who utilizes new soil for sugar-beet pro- 

 duction expects a comparatively low yield and is generally satisfied, 

 for the reason stated above, if the crop pays the cost of production. 

 Wliile this is one of the causes of the low-average yield of beets per 

 acre in this country, it is by no means the only one. 



Worn soil. — In those sugar-beet sections where this crop has been 

 grown for a number of years without proper attention to the main- 

 tenance of soil fertility and an adequate supply of humus, the yield 

 of sugar beets has been reduced. There are few sugar-beet areas in 

 which the soil fertility has been maintained or improved to the 

 limit of possibilities. It is apparent, therefore, that by proper at- 

 tention to soil conditions from the standpoint of fertility the average 

 yield of beets per acre may be greatly increased. The worn condition 

 of the soil is not due alone to the growing of sugar beets. All other 

 farm crops when grown without reference to increasing the supply 

 of available plant food in the soil aiid without proper attention to 

 the humus in the soil tend to reduce the yielding value of the soil. 



Sugar beets are no harder upon the soil than are the other crops 

 generally grown ; all require the same plant foods in slightly differ- 

 ent proportions. If not supplied with the material removed by the 

 various crops or if the plant foods in the soil are not made available 

 by the application of humus and by proper cultivation, the soil be- 

 comes worn and infertile, and the yields of all crops, including sugar 

 beets, are greatly reduced. 



Quality of the soil. — Soils vary widely in their original- qualities, 

 both physical and chemical. All agricultural soils are supplied in 

 varying proportions with the necessary plant foods for crop pro- 

 duction. Soils that have plant food present in great abundance 

 may be said to be rich. They are not fertile, however, unless these 

 plant foods are in soluble form or unless they are rendered soluble 

 as rapidly as the various materials are required by the plant in the 

 process of growth. The quality of the soil from the standpoint of 

 fertility may be greatly improved by proper cultivation, crop rota- 

 tion, and the addition of humus, as well as by the application of 

 lime or other material that will improve its physical condition. In 

 special cases special treatments, such as subsoiling and drainage, are 

 needed to make the soil highly productive. 



SUBSOIL. 



In the growing of sugar beets the subsoil is often of equal im- 

 portance with the surface soil. 



Hard'pan. — Frequently the surface soil is underlain by a hardpan 

 which it is impossible for the beet roots to penetrate. The hardpan 

 may be of natural formation or it may be induced by improper 



