Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-05-19
About Sugar Beets.

The Secretary of Agriculture has
given some very interesting and
valuable facts regarding the sugar
beet, its culture and importance.
When we take into consideration
the fact that in the year 1896, the
total amount of sugar manufactured
In the world was seven million
seven hundred and seven thousand
five hundred tons, of which foul
million, nine hundred and sixty
thousand tons was produced from
the sugar beet, it will at once be APP
parent that this plant is one of the
most important which can be cult
waited in the United States.
Careful experience in this coun-
try has developed the fact that the
sugar beet will produce the best re-
suits in a latitude where the aver
age isothermal line of 70 degrees
Fahrenheit, averages for the months
of June, July and August; this line
does not follow latitudinal lines but
varies in accordance with other con-
ditions.
In this country it covers the
south half of New York, Michigan
Wisconsin and Minnesota; the north
half of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Iowa; almost the whole of
South Dakota, north and west por-
tons of Nebraska, slightly touching
Kansas; turning south covers the
entire alluvial lands of Color ado,
including most of New Mexico, Ari-
iona, California, Utah, Idaho, the
north half of Oregon and the south
half of Washington; making an area
large enough to furnish sugar for
the entire world. Regarding some
of the districts named where it
never rains in summer, irrigation
will have to be resorted to; but it
may be said of this plant, that it
stands drought splendidly and in
an irrigated district the percentage
of sugar is greater in the beet than
where there is a natural rain fall.
The trouble with American far
mers has been, and is now, that
those who live north of the cotton
belt are brought into direct compe-
tition with the low price of wages in
India and Russia as well as China
and Japan, and there has been an
over-production in the food products
which has caused prices to be
lower than can be profitably main
tanned by the United States.
The facts are, that at this time
there are quite number of manu-
factories in the United States, and
they are all doing a good business;
three being in California; two in
Nebraska; one in New Mexico; and
one IN Utah; and those at the pre-
sent time building, are, one at Rome,
New York, one in Wisconsin, and
three in California. The great SUI
gar king Claus Spreckels is build
ing a factory at Salinas City, Cali
fornia. There are in Germany now
in operation, 997 factories; in France
355; Austria Hungary, ZIG; and
in Russia, 277. The enormous in
vestments in this industry in the
old world and the avidity with
which capital is reaching out to it,
assures the American farmer that
there will be a ready sale for his
product to manufactures which will
be built in his vicinage as soon as
the farmers are ready to furnish
sufficient amount of beets to guar
antee the establishment of a factory.
The sugar beet industry is in fact
no longer an experiment but has
proven great success as is shown
by the figures given, that about two
thirds of the sugar produced in the
world comes from this plant.
The subject is SO elaborate that
it cannot be treated in a short arti-
Gle, but if those reading this article
will address the National Informa-
ton Bureau, 1920 New York Ave,
Washington, d. O., full details will
be sent as to the proper kind to
cultivate; the machinery to use;
and thorough treatise upon this
subject; which information will be
gladly furnished free of cost.
Hon. James Wilson, Secretary of
Agriculture, has given this subject
much thought, and is bring ing his
thoroughly practical mind to bear
upon the best methods to pursue,
and will at all times respond to any
inquiries which may be received at
his Department relative to this sub
ject. The American farmers should
commence to arrange now for the
crop and factory of 1898,-Wash-
ington letter.