The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-22

Henry J. Bifdle. Of Clarke County, in Z
Nancouyer luiene nhsnr

henry J. Biddle. OF Clarke County in the
Vancouver Independent.
Many persons who have become some
what interested in the question OF pro-
dueing sugar in Clarke county have re-
Gently remarked 70 me that they could
not see any profit In growing beets at as
low price as per ton. and therefore
did not feel encouraged to experiment in
business which seemed TO them so nm
promising. To convince those who are in
doubt as TO the profits Of beet culture n
will be well TO show what opinions are
held on this subject by men who have had
many years experience In growing heets
on a large scale. have recently had some
correspondence with Ar. r. NJ Allen. OF
Ames. Nebraska. who has been growing
sugar beess for many years past and keen
ing careful record OF the cost and profits
OF the work.
Hts sHo-Acre patch" OF beets yielded In
1875 crop Of s.9ss tons, or about III. tons
to the acre. many parts OF the tract
savo yield NJ over - tons and in ora
case reached 20 tons to the acre. In 1894
Nebraska suffered from the worst drouih
ever experienced, but while all other crops
proved a failure. the sss-acre tract AZ
Ames yielded s.saS tons of heetS. over 10
tons 20 the acre. While the yield was low
the sugar contents were very high nearly
II per cent. 50 that II the beets had been
paid for on a sliding scale the crop would
have heen worth SIS an acre.
The cos; o! growing this crop amounted
10 SIS an acre. according 70 a carefully
kept account OF all expenses The work
was all done by hired labor. and OF course
as large number of hands had 10 be
employed all were not OF the most efficien.
kind, Mr. Allen is Of the opinion thar
when iahorers can be obtained who have
bad practice In noeng and thinning he
heets the cost can be greatly reduced
Nov, IL Nebraska land VIII produce IT,
tons TO the acre in an average year and "a
tons in year OF droutn. can see no
reason - doubt that we can with proper
cultivation grow crops Ct from - 10 % tons
an acre. This. OF course. could hardly he
expected AT the start, sor there Is very
little land m this country in a thorough
enough condition Of cultivation to give ,hn
best results with a crop Hike the sugar bee,
but with deep blowing. thorough c,iltiya.
ton. and a proper understanding Of .he
business on the part OF tho grover No
ought in our mild. moist ana eauahie
climate 10 attain results equal TO those
Of the most favorable years In Nebraska
VIII heets pay 4 crop OF - tons worth
fran 81 to ttsA ton means so or $40 an
acTc. Even su7posinz tho labor cost
reaches StA there remains net nrofi. ~
sia 20 50 10 the owner. Compare this WITH
a crop ~ - bushels OF oats Al sAr. 81
bushels OF wheat At &c. or > tons Of hav
~ g. AMI compute the cost in labor az
producing these crops. Il Is evident that
'sere Is practically no net proff: IN them,
Al3 In many cases not enough 30 pay Tor
tsse labor.
suppose We are fortunate enough 10 re,
= cent pound sor our green prunes In the
future. \ fair crop VIII yield 81 per acre
a. cost q 50. leaving so profit Rut II
We nEare irieVcst or the large capital In
vested 10 maintain an orchard M 10 the
Tine 10 comes into bearing the actual net
froHt Will Be ala1cs; nothing Now. L
nay seem 20 some that I arm oveTes mating
bets srf uu3erestir'asius praneS. but l
think Al vii admit that shis year at least
the chances % raising = tons 81 heets
20 The acre are greater thaa the chances
- our pruus trees bearing saa T,oursss
aQiecr, and I know taat SaEar fartorfes
N va GUS parts ~ the United States con
ira tod for csrts a. from 81 20 s. a ton
early q fhs season. while doubs wncthsr
a manta sEo 7 could nAvs induced any
&C. 80 sErre - take nv comiaS pruae crop
ever AZ The icw prize nsrtione1 OF = ceat
pr pcurd-