Irrigation and Drainage 133 
larger quantities in three or four irrigations. Irrigating 
every row was found to be much superior to running the 
water down alternate rows. Keeping the soil constantly 
wet was also found to be detrimental to the crop. Beckett,} 
in California, ascertained the yield of beets to increase 
with the increase of water. This was, however, affected 
by the time of planting. 
The author? determined that when weekly irrigations 
were given, one inch each week gave a higher yield than 
when more was given. These results are shown in Fig. 50. 
It will be noted from the variation in the water require- 
ments of beets under different conditions that it is im- 
possible to give a definite duty of water for beets under 
all conditions. 
Time to apply water. 
No set rule can be given as to the time to irrigate beets, 
except to say that when the land becomes too dry for 
favorable growth, it is time to add water. This condition 
will come at different times in the life of the plant under 
different conditions. 
McClatchie,? working in Arizona, found that if seeding 
was done during the cool part of the year, the crop needed 
no irrigation for a month or so after planting, but if grown 
during the time of warm weather of early fall, it needed 
frequent watering till the weather became cool. If the 
beets were planted in the warm spring weather, irrigation 
was necessary during the entire period of growth. Where 
1 Beckett, S. H., U. S. Dept. of Agr., Bul. No. 10. 
2 Harris, F. S., Utah Exp. Sta., Bul. No. 156. 
8 McClatchie, A. J., Ariz. Exp. Sta., Buls. Nos. 31 and 41. 
