GROWING SUGAR BEETS IN UTAH AND IDAHO. 
23 
ROLLING. 
At Garland one-half of the rolling was done during the early part 
of May. A study of the records shows that a part of the rolling pre- 
ceded planting by a few days, sometimes coming on the same day 
as the planting. Manifestly the roller was run over the fields at this 
time for the purpose of creating a smooth, even surface for the drill. 
In oider to get straight rows, the driver must see the trail which has 
been left by the marker, and this line can be distinguished most 
readily on a newly rolled field. Under certain conditions, the roller 
may be operated for the purpose of breaking down a cloddy surface. 
Such work usually accompanies other tillage operations, such as 
harrowing and leveling. The roller may be utilized after the seed 
has germinated and the young plants are pushing through to the 
surface. This operation is known as "rolling beets." Light showers 
may cause a crust to form on the surface, and if this be permitted to 
develop fully the small plants may have difficulty in reaching the light. 
Under such conditions rolling sometimes breaks the crust and insures 
a better stand. Rolling before cultivation facilitates the latter 
operation, and undoubtedly aids in removing small obstructions such 
as soil lumps that interfere with blocking and thinning. (See Tables 
XII and XIII.) 
Table XII. — Rolling practice. 
District. 
Year. 
Number 
of 
farm 
records. 
Acres 
rolled 
per 
farm. 
Hours per acre. 
Cost per 
Man. 
Horse. 
acre. 
1914-15 
1915 
31 
6 
16.8 
22.8 
0.74 
.62 
1.5 
1.47 
$0.29 
.27 
Rolling before planting occurred on 37 farms.. At Garland the 
beet land was rolled one and one-third times, and 15 acres were cov- 
ered daily at a cost of 29 cents per acre. The crew for all farms 
consisted of one man and two horses. 
Table XIII. — The practice of rolling beets. 
District. 
Year. 
Number 
of farm 
records. 
Acres 
rolled 
per 
farm. 
Hours per acre. 
Cost per 
Man. 
Horse. 
acre. 
Garland 
1914-15 
1914-15 
29 
18 
16.8 
13.1 
19.2 
0.71 
.69 
.62 
.1.43 
1.39 
1.25 
SO. 27 
27 
Provo 
Idaho Falls 
1915 
25 
The crews for rolling beets were the same as those used in the pre- 
ceding practice. A day's work rolling beets varied from 14 -to 16 
acres. Thirty-four per cent of the farm records included rolling beets 
