COST OF PRODUCING SUGAR BEETS IX UTAH AXD IDAHO. 



25 



man and two horses. Such operations as plowing, harrowing, and 

 leveling may involve several crew sizes. In computing averages for 

 these different groups, fractions appear in the horse column. The 

 prevalence of certain crew sizes always exerts considerable influence 

 upon the average which is obtained. In these tables the most com- 

 mon crew sizes found in each district, as well as the average sizes, 

 are shown. (Tables XXI to XXIV.) 



PREPARATORY WORK. 



The preparation of the seed bed for any crop grown under irriga- 

 tion frequently calls for special work to insure a uniform distribution 

 of water when the proper season arrives. An uneven surface inter- 



, l....'i v.iUi a nJiii,, ir 



feres with the run of water and prevents a portion of the field from 

 receiving the amount which is required by the crop to produce the 

 usual yield. It is the custom in all of these districts to level the 

 cultivated area ^vith a scraper of one type or another. Ordinarily a 

 few days are spent during the fall and winter months \\4th the team 

 and scraper at this particular task. (Fig. 6.) In this study scrap- 

 ing the land has been considered improvement work, and while a 

 small amount of man and horse labor was shown^on some of these 

 records no charge for this operation was made against the beet crop. 

 It was agreed that tliis expense slundd be distributed thi'ough a series 

 of years and this process renders the cost for a single crop season 

 practically negligible. Such work merely adds to the farm capitaliza- 

 tion, and any costs that may accrue will be taken care of in the dis- 

 tribution of general farm expense to the several enterprises of the 

 business. 



