6 
BuIvIvETIN 121. 
I- In a general selection of mother beets for growing seed, 
there is a wide variation in the seed producing tendency of indi¬ 
viduals, and by selecting along this line, our tests have demonstrated 
that the seed yield can be materially increased. 
2. So far, in the beet-growing tests there has usually been a 
large number of beets that would not grow a seed stalk, but only 
make a vegetating growth of leaves and root; this feature has var¬ 
ied somewhat with seasons, but our tests have indicated that the 
soil conditions and the manner of setting out the beets are very es¬ 
sential to uniform seed production. 
3. Our method of siloing mother beets has been to silo late 
in the season, selecting only well matured beets of good shape and 
size, removing the leaves without injury to the center or crown 
buds, then layer the beets in dry soil in deep, narrow pits, to protect 
from frost. Ventilation is necessary, also protection from snows 
and rain finding their way into the silo. 
4. Mother beets should be set out early in April, in this 
section, selecting a fertile soil, well drained, so that moisture con¬ 
ditions may be controlled. 
5. To insure uniform conditions in setting out the beets, a 
deep furrow should be thrown out and still loosening the soil in the 
bottom of the furrow, the beets may then be set in the furrows 
with the crown about level with the surface of the ground; the soil 
may then be thrown to the beets with a small plow or cultivator, 
then a small stream of water is run on each side of the row which 
.settles the soil around each beet uniformly. After the beets have 
started, any soil that may cover the crown is carefully removed; 
frequent cultivation and irrigation are then applied to induce a rapid 
growth until the seed stalk appears, then less water is necessary, un¬ 
til the seed begins to ripen, when the water should be withheld. 
6. After the seed stalks are well developed, hilling up the rows 
with soil will prevent much breakage by wind or heavy loads of 
seed; tying the stalks together with twine is also sometimes nec¬ 
essary. 
7. The injury from the false chinch bug is less frequent on 
alfalfa and grain land that has been kept clean from weeds upon 
which insects thrive. Thus far, mother beets on clean land sur¬ 
rounded by grain of some kind, have not been attacked by the insect. 
A flock of young chickens or turkeys has proven a protection from 
grasshoppers when they are cooped on or near the plat of mother 
beets. 
CANTALOUPES 
The question of maintaining or improving the quality of the 
Rocky Ford cantaloupes becomes more pertinent each year, as we 
hear the unsatisfactory reports of the irregular quality of the 
product in all the various markets. The many inquiries and re¬ 
quests for seed from the farmers and the experiment stations 
throughout the melon growing sections of the United States is 
