GROWING SUGAR BEETS IN CALIFORNIA. EY) 
TaslLeE XI.—Rolling. 
Acres in beets per Hours of labor per 
Number | Per cent farm. Times acre. Labor 
District. of of total rolled cost per 
records. } records. 5 acre 
Total. | Rolled. Man. Horse. 
Before planting: 
Los Angeles... -... 30 37 115. 22 96. 38 1, 24 0. 90 3.75 $0. 56 
Pot Wee 11 24 117. 36 80. 55 1.09 1.01 5.53 . 76 
SHG oat ee 35 90 93. 46 93. 46 1.41 1.14 5. 51 79 
Aiter planting: 
Los Angeles...... 78 96 93. 16 91. 42 1.69 97 1.95 .39 
Oxai arden 22! 39 87 66. 72 61.59 1.52 - 80 1. 60 33 
The cross-kill was used exclusively in the Salinas district and on 
50 per cent and 72 per cent, respectively, of the farms in the Los 
Angeles and Oxnard areas. The smooth wood and steel rollers were 
also used to some extent in preparing the seed bed. The season for 
rolling extended from October to May. The width of implement 
ranged from 6 to 12 feet. The labor cost per acre was about the same 
at Oxnard and Salinas, but considerably lower at Los Angeles. 
AFTER PLANTING. 
At Los Angeles and Oxnard 96 per cent and 87 per cent, respec- 
tively, of the growers rolled after seeding. This work was done 
when the seedlings were about to push through the ground, and again 
after thinning. If the rain causes a crust to form before the beets are 
up, it is customary to break this crust with a roller. Again after 
thinning it is customary to use a roller to firm the surface soil around 
the plants. 
With the exception of 12 bar rollers in the Los Angeles district, 
smooth iron and wood rollers were used for this purpose. These 
rollers were drawn by two-horse teams, and ranged in width from 
8 to 16 feet. 
HARROWING. 
SPIKE-TOOTH HARROW AND SMUDGE. 
Tn addition to the common spike-tooth harrow, the “smudge” har- 
row was found on many farms in the Los Angeles district. The most 
common type of smudge consists of two square timbers, usually 4 
by 4 inches, and ranging in length from 10 to 12 feet, set parallel 
about 4 feet apart and securely fastened together by means of cross- 
pieces, with usually a small platform in the center, on which the 
operator stands to give the implement additional weight. At regu- 
lar intervals of about 6 inches steel teeth are driven through the two 
main timbers. These teeth are shorter than those of the spike-tooth 
harrow, and are set at an angle of about 45 degrees by placing the 
89948°—19—Bull. 760——3 
