226 FARM CROPS 



some rotation system, a popular one being corn 

 heavily manured with stable manure the first year, 

 followed by beets the second, oats or barley the 

 third, and clover the fourth. Then corn again, the 

 rotation being repeated. By applying the barnyard 

 manure to the corn the weed seeds will be sprouted 

 and killed in cultivation. The rank growth that 

 barnyard manure tends to cause will be lost by the 

 time the beets come in the rotation and the soil will 

 be put in excellent condition for the beet crop. 



Preparing Land for Sugar Beets. — The best soil 

 for the sugar beet is a strong, rich, well-drained 

 loam, with a porous subsoil. The beet does well 

 on a great variety of soils provided the land is 

 properly prepared, but at the start only those fields 

 should be put into the crop that from the best 

 obtainable knowledge are believed to be well 

 adapted to the crop. It is important that the land 

 should be in a good degree of fertility, and, so far 

 as possible, free from weeds. 



The main thing is deep plowing. Here is where 

 the average farmer errs when he begins beet cul- 

 ture. Deep plowing is needed because the beet is 

 a deep-rooting plant. To make the best growth, 

 richest in sugar, the soil must be so deep that the 

 plant will bury the top of the root under the 

 soil, as the parsnip does, aod at the same time 

 be able to send its taproot down without let or 

 hindrance. 



Of course fall plowing is best. But whether 

 spring or fall plowed 8 to lo inches deep is neces- 

 sary. Put on a stout team and plow 8 to lo inches 

 deep, provided you do not turn up an inch or two of 

 fresh soil that has never before seen the light of 

 day. In many cases, too much of this fresh soil 



