GROWING SUGAR BEETS IN THE BILLINGS REGION. . 2a 
IRRIGATING THE SUGAR-BEET CROP. 
Irrigation in the Billings region is by water supplied directly 
from the river to the farms and not stored in reservoirs, such as are 
found in many sections elsewhere. The supply is from the Yellow- 
stone River and its tributaries, and much of the water is available 
‘in June and early July, as this is the time when the water in the 
river from the melting snows of the mountains at the headwaters 
of the Yellowstone River reaches its highest point. Large ditches 
are constructed to take the water from the river, and these ditches 
run at an altitude higher than the lands to be irrigated. By a 
gradual branching into smaller ditches the water is distributed to 
the beet fields, where it is run in small furrows between the beet rows. 
In running the water through the furrows between the rows of 
beets it is necessary to have only a small head, as it is advisable that. 
the water in the furrow should not overflow and submerge the crown 
of the beets. The furrows are usually about 3 or 4 inches deep. 
Different types of soil require different lengths of time for the appli- 
cation of the water in order to give the beets a thorough irrigation. 
Sandy lands require a quick run in order to be most efficient in the 
use of the water, while heavy soils which the water does not pene- 
trate quickly require a long run of water.’ The farmer usually judges 
that the beets have sufficient water when the land is thoroughly satu- 
rated to the depth of an irrigating shovel in the middle of the strip 
between two water furrows. The length of time the water is run in 
the furrow depends greatly on the length of the row of beets. Many 
growers shut off the water as soon as it reaches the lower end of the 
furrow so as to avoid waste of the water from the ends of the rows. 
Irrigating usually begins in the month of July, depending on the 
season, the amount of rains, and the size of the beets.. The first irri- - 
gation water was applied to beets by 41 farmers of this group from 
July 5 to 15, 136 began irrigating from July 16 to July 25, 66 began 
> irrigating on July 26 to August 5, and 5 did not apply the first 
irrigation until after August 6. 
Six farmers applied the last irrigation to beets from August 1 to 
August 5, 14 finished irrigating from August 6 to 15, 83 finished 
from August 16 to 25, 75 applied the last irrigation from August 
26 to September 5, 65 finished irrigating from September 5 to 15, 
| and 5 irrigated eas as late as September 16. 
The average length of time between the first and last treatin 
of sugar beets was 37 days, while the extreme dates shown for indi- 
vidual irrigations range from July 5 to September 20, which gives 
a season of 77 days for irrigating. 
Beets should not be irrigated until they are too large to cultivate 
and the leaves have spread out so that they will cover the ground 
