GROWING SUGAR BEETS IN/ COLORADO. 
55 
Good yields are invariably associated with thorough tillage methods 
and a well-regulated cropping system. If the returns on a given 
farm are below the average for the district, it is highly probable that 
some improvement can be made by giving attention to the following 
points: (1) Better utilization of the manure which accumulates on 
the farm; (2) increasing the supply of organic matter in the soil 
through green-manuring crops; (3) more thorough tillage, not only 
in plowing, but also in the subsequent preparation of the seed bed; 
(4) exercising greater care in doing the handwork, expecially the 
bunching and thinning; (5) better cultivation; (6) the proper use 
of water. A good rotation should be adopted and adhered to 
systematically. 
VALUE OF BEET TOPS. 
Beet tops may be considered as a by-product of the beet-sugar 
industry. After the beets are pulled the tops are cut off squarely 
just below the crown at the base of the bottom leaf. The crown 
part of the beet, together with the leaves, is left upon the field. 
Sometimes the topping is done in such a manner as to leave the tops 
in small piles. By following this plan they are not tramped into the 
soil when the beets are loaded and hauled from the field. Beet tops 
make excellent feed for all classes of stock and can be used to advan- 
tage by most growers in the fall of the year. In this investigation 
an attempt was made to get the growers' estimate with reference 
to the value of beet tops in 1914 and 1915. The figures obtained 
were based upon actual value when sold or upon the value of hay and 
roughage saved through the use of tops. Seventy-four per cent of 
the operators fed the tops to their own stock. A few men fed a part 
of the tops and sold the remainder, while a few other men sold all 
the tops (Table XXXII). 
Table XXXII. — Disposition and estimated acre value of sugar-beet tops. 
District. 
Num- 
ber of 
farms. 
Year. 
Per 
cent 
fed. 
Value 
when fed. 
Per cent 
fed and 
sold. 
Value a 
when fed 
and sold. 
Per 
cent 
sold. 
Value 
when 
sold. 
Greelev 
195 
66 
106 
1914-15 
1915 
1914-15 
73 
65 
79 
$3.07 
4.31 
2.82 
12 
21 
8 
$2.70 
4.25 
2.65 
15 
14 
13 
$2.97 
3.77 
2.54 
Total 
367 
74 
3.35 
12 
3.30 
14 
« 3.07 
a Part of crop was fed on farm and remainder was sold. In the latter instance the tops were invariably 
fed in the field where the beets were grown. 
The average values for the Fort Morgan area were uniformly 
higher than the values for the Greeley and Rocky Ford districts. 
Sugar beets are relatively more important in the management of 
the farm at Fort Morgan than in the other two districts, and for this 
reason greater value is placed upon the tops. Furthermore, the 
