THE BEET-SUGAR INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES. 7 
country. Usually the grower who utilizes new soil for sugar-beet pro- 
duction expects a comparatively low yield and is generally satisfied, 
for the reason stated above, if the crop pays the cost of production. 
While this is one of the causes of the low-average yield of beets per 
acre in this country, it is by no means the only one. 
Worn soil. — In those sugar-beet sections where this crop has been 
grown for a number of years without proper attention to the main- 
tenance of soil fertility and an adequate supply of humus, the yield 
of sugar beets has been reduced. There are few sugar-beet areas in 
which the soil fertility has been maintained or improved to the 
limit of possibilities. It is apparent, therefore, that by proper at- 
tention to soil conditions from the standpoint of fertility the average 
yield of beets per acre may be greatly increased. The worn condition 
of the soil is not due alone to the growing of sugar beets. All other 
farm crops when grown without reference to increasing the supply 
of available plant food in the soil and without proper attention to 
the humus in the soil tend to reduce the yielding value of the soil. 
Sugar beets are no harder upon the soil than are the other crops 
generally grown ; all require the same plant foods in slightly differ- 
ent proportions. If not supplied with the material removed by the 
various crops or if the plant foods in the soil are not made available 
by the application of humus and by proper cultivation, the soil be- 
comes worn and infertile, and the yields of all crops, including sugar 
beets, are greatly reduced. 
Quality of the soil. — Soils vary widely in their original qualities, 
both physical and chemical. All agricultural soils are supplied in 
varying proportions with the necessary plant foods for crop pro- 
duction. Soils that have plant food present in great abundance 
may be said to be rich. They are not fertile, however, unless these 
plant foods are in soluble form or unless they are rendered soluble 
as rapidly as the various materials are required by the plant in the 
process of growth. The quality of the soil from the standpoint of 
fertility may be greatly improved by proper cultivation, crop rota- 
tion, and the addition of humus, as well as by the application of 
lime or other material that will improve its physical condition. In 
special cases special treatments, such as subsoiling and drainage, are 
needed to make the soil highly productive. 
SUBSOIL. 
In the growing of sugar beets the subsoil is often of equal im- 
portance with the surface soil. 
Hardpan. — Frequently the surface soil is underlain by a hardpan 
which it is impossible for the beet roots to penetrate. The hardpan 
may be of natural formation or it may be induced by improper 
