30 BULLETIN 726, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Table XVII. — Rolling beet data for three Colorado areas. 
District. - 
Year. 
Num- 
ber of 
farms. 
Acres 
rolled 
per 
farm. 
Num- 
ber 
times 
rolled. 
Crew. 
Hours per acre. 
Total 
cost 
Man. 
Horse. 
Man. 
Horse. 
per 
acre. 
1914-15 
1915 
1914-15 
74 
20 
96 
22.4 
16.9 
24.28 
1.21 
1.05 
1.18 
1 
1 
1 
2.1 
2.1 
2.26 
0.97 
. 75 
1.-01 
2.1 
1.56 
2.2 
SO. 38 
.31 
.43 
CONTRACT LABOR. 
The hand work on sugar beets includes blocking and thinning, 
two regular hoeings, occasionally a third hoeing with some weeding, 
and pulling and topping. These operations, taken collectively, are 
Fig. 12.— Rolling sugar beets. Rolling not only breaks any crust that may exist, but it also firms the 
soil and thereby facilitates blocking and thinning. 
known as contract labor. The blocking is done with a hoe. The 
beet seed is drilled in a continuous row and after germination takes 
place more plants are usually present than are necessary to insure 
a good stand. By blocking or chopping out the surplus plants with 
a hoe, small bunches containing three or more beets are left 10 to 
12 inches apart in the row. The thinning of the bunches which 
follows is done by hand. In addition to blocking, the operator cuts 
off any weeds left by the cultivator. The manner of performing these 
operations is described in the following rules and regulations govern- 
ing hand work, from sample contract, 1915: 
Bunching and thinning. — This work must be commenced by trie contractor just as 
soon as the beets show four leaves and the grower has them cultivated, and must 
be completed as rapidly as possible in the following manner, to wit: Beets to be 
