Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1891-05-07
The Sugar Beet.

Now that the sugar beet question is
receiving considerable local attention
the following notes on the value and de-
STABILITY of the beet as crop, will be
found Of interest. They are taken from
the official report of Prof E. J. Babcock,
who made an investigation into the adap.
liability of North Dakota for sugar beet
culture last year, under the direction of
the commissioner of agriculture and
labor. He says:
The introduction OF an industry go ex-
tensive as the sugar industry cannot fail
to bring with it untold wealth. Like
bread, sugar is one of the prime necessi-
ties of every family.
The thrift of q state or community de-
ponds largely upon the diversity Of it's
Industries. Every new industry develops
resources before unused, keeps at home,
as we'll as brings in, large amount of
wealth, and adds in many ways to the
general prosperity.
From an agricultural point OF view,
sugar beet culture is important in supply
ing another profitable crop. A crop Of
fifteen tons per acre would, at "a per ton,
make the gross receipts $50 per acre. It
has been estimated that the average
yearly returns to the farmer for his beet
crop will be from $50 to 965 per acre,
which would net far more than the or
dinary grain crop. It would require an
exceedingly large crop Of wheat and a
good price to bring more than s15 per
l'acre. Sugar factories would supply an
independent lone market. thus insuring
better and more uniform price than
cal be secured when depen ience is put
on the quotations of distant city, as is
the case with grain products.
1t would further enlarge the local de-
mand for other products by inter-spers-
ing manufacturing with an agrlcultur-
al population.
The good effects would not be con-
fined to the narrow district surrounding
the factory. The money expended for
beets and labor would be scattered to
surrounding villages, would improve
markets, and foster other branches Of in
dustry.
The beet is especially valuable as it,
ting and cleaning crop. 1t is far bet
tor than fallowing, and thus becomes
one of the very best forerunners of other
crops. Beets should be cultivated in ro-
tation with other crops. In this way
the soil would not be degraded; but
rather we'll fitted, as would be seen by
the succeeding crop.
The quality of wheat raised after
beets is better than that usually pro-
duced; the ears are longer and heavier,
the straw stronger and not 90 liable to
lodge. The berry is larger and brighter;
its specific gravity is also greater, weigh
ing from two to three pounds more than
the ordinary wheat.
After the juice is wsed for sugar the
beet pulp which remains is an admirable
food for stock, on which, in the sugar
districts of Europe, large numbers of
cattle. sheep and swine are fed.
It is said that in some beet sugar dis
tricts, the number of cattle has in
creased from eight to ten fold since the
introduction OF the sugar industry.
The effect OF the introduction of this
respond to those just mentioned,
but would probably be even more
marked.
So far, experiments have shown the
soil andclimate of North Dakota to be
we'll suited to the culture of sugar beets,
the yield being good and the quality
rich.
A matter of great Importance to the
sugar manufactory is its fuel, as large
per cent of the running expenses are for
this item. A large amount of Ignite coal
is used for this purpose in Europe. The
immense beds Of coal which exist in this
state will afford cheap and abundant
supply Of fuel, while the factories in turn
will help to produce coal market.
The value of beets and beet pulp would
be Of Importance in North Dakota in the
raising Of sheep and swine; for extensive
introduction Of the sugar industry would
almost be sure to make large increase
in the number of SWINE raised; and as it
is conceded that beet pulp is remark
ably good mutton producer, the estab-
state would add wonderful stimulus to
the already fast developing sheep bust
ness.