GROWING SUGAR BEETS IN UTAH AND IDAHO. 



23 



ROLLING. 



At Garland one-half of the rollmg was done during the early part 

 of May. A study of the records shows that a part of the rollmg pre- 

 ceded plantuig by a few days, sometimes coming on the same day 

 as the planting. Manifestly the roller was run over the fields at this 

 time for the purpose of creating a smooth, even surface for the drill. 

 In order to get straight rows, the driver must see the trail which has 

 been left by the marker, and this line can be distinguished most 

 readily on a newly rolled field. Under certain conditions, the roller 

 may be operated for the purpose of breaking down a cloddy surface. 

 Such v/ork usually accompanies other tillage operations, such as 

 harrowing and leveling. The roller may be utihzed after the seed 

 has germinated and the young plants are pushuig through to the 

 surface. This operation is known as "rolling beets." Light showers 

 may cause a crust to form on the surface, and if this be permitted to 

 develop fully the small plants may have difficulty in reaching the light. 

 Under such conditions rolling sometimes breaks the crust and insures 

 a better stand. Rolling before cultivation facihtates the latter 

 operation, and undoubtedly aids in removmg small obstructions such 

 as soil lumps that interfere with blocking and thinning. (See Tables 

 XII and XIII.) 



Table XII. — Rolling practice. 



District. 



Year. 



Number 



of 



farm 



records. 



Acres 



rolled 



per 



farm. 



Hours per acre. 



Cost per 



Man. 



Horse. 



aero. 





1914-15 

 1915 



31 

 6 



16.8 

 22. S 



0.74 

 .62 



1.5 



1. 47 



$0 29 



Idaho Falls 



.27 









RolUng before planting occurred on 37 farms. At Garland the 

 beet land was rolled one and one-third times, and 15 acres were cov- 

 ered daily at a cost of 29 cents per acre. The crew for all farms 

 consisted of one man and two horses. 



Table XIII. — The practice of rolling beets. 



District. 



Year. 



Number 

 of farm 

 records. 



Acres 

 rolled 



per 

 farm. 



Hours per acre. 



Cost per 



Man. 



Horse. 



acre. 



Garland 



1914-15 



1914r-15 



29 



18 



16.8 

 13.1 

 19.2 



0.71 

 .69 

 .62 



1.43 

 1.39 

 1.25 



SO. 27 



Provo . 



27 



Idaho Falls 



1915 12 



.25 











The crews for rolling beets were the same as those used in the pre- 

 ceding practice. A day's work rolling beets varied from 14 to 16 

 acres. Thirty-four per cent of the farm records included rollmg beets 



