36 BULLETIN 721, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
beet seed. There are a number of sugar-beet drills on the market 
which seem to be fairly satisfactory. In some localities the farmers 
own their beet drills, and in others they are owned by the sugar 
companies and rented to the farmers at a small charge per acre. 
Most of the drills made for planting sugar-beet seed are so con- 
structed that they will plant four rows at a time, as shown in Plate I, 
figure 1. Likewise, the cultivator is especially adapted to sugar- 
beet work, and will cultivate four rows corresponding to the drill. 
This is Very important, as will be noted by those who have had ex- 
perience in using a cultivator in such narrow rows. In planting 
four rows at a time many deviations from a straight line will occur 
in each of the four rows, which can, therefore, be followed more 
readily with a 4-row cultivator with less damage to the plants. The 
beet cultivators are usually equipped with various implements for 
stirring the soil, depending upon the soil conditions and the size of 
the beets. 
Plows. — The ordinary walking or riding plow can be used in turn- 
ing the soil in the preparation of the seed bed. The two-way plow 
is well adapted to the sugar-beet crop, for the reason that it pro- 
duces no dead furrows. This is. especially important in the irri- 
gated areas. In some localities the disk plow is frequently used, 
although the ordinary moldboard plow is in most common use. The 
advantage of the disk plow for deep plowing is that it enables one 
to stir the soil to a good depth if the plow is properly constructed 
and adjusted, without bringing too much raw soil to the surface. 
The plows in use vary from the walking moldboard plow through 
various types of sulky plows to the disk plow, with its numerous 
variations. In some types of soil it is especially desirable to give 
an occasional deep plowing. 
The best results are obtained by fall plowing, as has been shown 
by our survey as well as by personal experience. Fair results may be 
obtained by spring plowing, provided the soil has been previously 
in good tilth. 
Harrows. — In preparing a seed bed for any crop the disk harrow 
is a valuable implement. It is frequently used to advantage before 
the ground is plowed. When so used it puts the surface of the 
ground in such condition that holes or spaces are nowhere left when 
the ground is turned with the plow. The disk harrow is used some- 
times in breaking up lumps or clods after the plowing has been 
done; however, if the ground has been plowed when in good con- 
dition and has been properly treated after plowing, there will be no 
large lumps or clods, and hence no necessity for the use of the disk 
harrow to break them up. In case weeds start before the time for 
planting the sugar-beet seed, the disk harrow is sometimes useful 
in destroying the weeds. The proper preparation after the ground 
