The record-union., 1897-10-19


Then turning westward, 1t passes in
very irregular line through the States
Of California, Oregon and Washington.
Extending a distance of 100 miles on
each side of this isothermal line is
belt which, for the present, may be
regarded as the theoretical beet sugar
area Of the United States. There are
doubtless many localities lying outside
of this belt. both north and south, in
which the sugar beet will be found TO
thrive: hut this will be due to some
exceptional qualities of the climate or
soil and not to anv favorable infiu-
ence of a higher or lower temperature
A mean temperature of 20 degrees
Fahrenheit in the summer, however,
must not be regarded as the only ele-
me1t of temperature which is to be
taken into consideration. In those To-
ealities where the winters come early
and arc of unusual severity will be
found greater difficulties in the pro-
duction of sugar from the sugar beet
than in those localities where the win
ters are light and mild, although the
mean summer temperature of both To-
calities may be represented by 10 de-
grees Fahrenheit As an illustration
VI lAAlS O41&4SQAAS may DC SAlNA ANO1 eANA A
Nebraska and South Dakota, where the
winters are of great severity, and Cal
ifornia, where there is scarcely any
winter at all.
The mean summer temperature of
these localities is about the same, but
the continuation of a semi i-summer
temperature through the winter in
California greatly favors the growth
,of Tn
Northern Nebraska and South Dakota
the Deets, which are to be manufac-
tured during the winter time, have to
be protected by expensive silos. In Cali
fornia and other places similarly situ-
ated the beets can be protected with
out any covering, or at most with only
slight covering of leaves or straw.
The season for planting in a mild
climate is also longer For instance.
in California planting can commence
as early as January and continue till
June, thus giving a beet crop coming
continuously into maturity from the
1st of August to the 1st of Decem-
Der. In other localities the planting
must be accomplished in a short time,
say from the 10th of May till the 1st
of June. Before the first of these dates
llt5 SIOuLQ Will D6 LOO COlu lOT Dld1I-
ing. and after the second the season
will he so late as to prevent the ma
turity of the beets before frost.
When the field is properly plowed and
subsoled in the late autumn the farm
er viii be able to take advantage OF
the first favorable opportunity in the
spring to prepare the surface of the
soil and plant the seed.
Although conditions of temperature
must be taken into consideration in Sc
lecting sites for beet sugar factories.
yet in addition to the thermal condi-
tions must also be studied those of
rainfall. The sugar beet requires a GER
tain amount of moisture in order to
produce its normal crop. This moisture
must be derived either from precipita-
tion in the usual way, by irrigation or
else the soil must be of that particular
quality which viii allow subterranean
moisture to reach the rootlets of the
plants. Soil of this latter kind appears
to exist in many localities in Cali
fornia, where beets are grown almost
without rain. The porous and sandy
soils adjacent to many of the Western
rivers, such as the Platte River in Ne
braska and the Arkansas River in Kan
| sas, also appear to furnish a sufficient
| amount of subterranean moisture to
produce a good crop in connection with
the rainfall, of which, however, but lit
tie is expected in those localities DUR
ing the summer months. Where there
| is little subterranean moisture and
where irrigation is not practicable, the
endeavor should be made to secure To-
calities for the growth of the sugar beet
where an average summer precipita-
ton of from 2 to inches per month
may be expected. There are many
conditions of agriculture however, un-
der which the beet becomes quite in
dependent of extremes of precipitation.
The beet may thrive with very little
rainfall or with a great deal If prop
erly cultivated in a suitable soil.
BEETS ON IRRIGATED LANDS.
The experience Of more than ten years
in California has shown that the eli
matte data, regarded as of prime i'm
portance in beet culture in Europe. can
| not be regarded as rigidly applicable
to this country. The successful
growth of sugar beets in the arid re-
| gions of our country. with and without
irrigation. has introduced a new factor
into the science of beet meteorology.
While the arid area on which beets can
| be grown without irrigation is prob
ably confined almost exclusively to the
| coast valleys of California, the success
/ full commercial production of sugar
/ baets in Utah and New Mexico has
! opGned up a new and extensive field
| for the extension of the sugar industry
over large areas suited to irrigation in
the western and southwestern regions
/ of the United States
1t is certain now that Colorado. Utah.
New Mexico, Idaho and Arizona may
/ become great sugar producing States,
not excluding other areas in the arid
I region. California has already set the
pace Of progress and the other arid
/ States will not be slow to follow. The
/ high cost of good irrigation renders ii
imperative that the areas under culture
/ be devoted to a crop which is capable
| of producing a more valuable yield
than IS afforded by cereal culture. Of
all the home markets for our domestic
/ agricultural products, there is none so
insistent nor so expansive as that for
sugar.
With an annual consumption of 3
/ 000.900 tons, and with a certainty of
rapid increase. the demand for sugar
| promises to be the salvation of Amer
I lean agriculture.
In q dry soil the beet can endure
without damage low temperature,