16 BULLETIN 995, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICrLTVEE. 
and uniformly moist before the seed is planted, as beet seed will not 
o-erminate satisfactorily in a cold or unevenly moistened bed. A 
few of the stronger plants may come up in the moist spots if the 
seed bed is not too cold, but the stand will be uneyen and far from 
perfect. It is advisable, therefore, to see that the soil conditions are 
right before planting. Generally there is a planting period of sev- 
eral weeks during which the seed may be placed in the ground 
with good results. It lias been observed that late plantings will 
frequently give better results than very early plantings. It is not 
advisable to plant in soil that is too dry or too wet. If the soil 
is too dry and irrigating water is available it is best to irrigate 
before planting: if irrigating water is not available and the indi- 
cations are favorable for rain it will usually be advisable to wait 
until rain has fallen. If the ground is too wet when the seed is 
planted, there is danger of the seed rotting and thereby failing to 
produce a stand. 
Winds. — In some localities wind is an important factor affecting 
the stand of sugar beets. Aside from the effect of wind upon seed 
formation, as previously noted, wind is effective in two ways in 
injuring the stand of beets. If the soil is sandy, strong winds may 
shift the sand so that the seed is covered too deeply, and the young- 
plants can not get through to the light, and if the beet seedlings 
are up the wind may carry the fine particles of sand against the 
tender plants with such force that they are destroyed or severely 
injured. This frequently occurs in level areas where strong winds 
prevail in early spring. The destructive effect of winds may be 
overcome, in part at least, by drilling in the seed at right angles to 
the direction of the prevailing winds and by ridging the ground 
slightly between the rows. 
Crust. — In many sugar-beet localities the soil has a strong tendency 
to crust if it is moistened and then quickly dried. Showers some- 
times fall shortly after the seed is planted, followed by sunshine and 
drying winds, and in cases where the soil has a tendency to bake a 
very hard crust will frequently form, which will either prevent the 
young plants from coming through to the light or will cause a very 
uneven stand. The crust formed will vary in thickness, depending 
upon the nature of the soil and the conditions of the weather. If the 
crust is thin and the young plants have not been caught in it. a light 
harrow or a roller will sometimes put the surface in shape so that the 
plants will break through. If the crust is thick and the plants are 
embedded in it. there is frequently no remedy except to harrow the 
ground and replant. A crust may be prevented or greatly retarded 
by an application of lime before or immediately after plowing and 
by keeping the ground well supplied with humus. 
