Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-08-05


where il takes a sudden turn 10 the
south, passing in a general southerly
direction through western Nebraska
and eastern Colorado and New Mex
loo to near the southern boundary
OF the latter State. Here 1t curves
broadly to the west, passing through
Arizona to its western boundary,
where it runs north again In a long
and narrow loop through Utah and
Idaho, the northern turn Of which is
near Boise City, Idaho. II returns
thence through Utah and southeast
ern Nevada to southern California,
where it runs north in another long
loop whose northern extremity is to
the south OF Mount Shasta, the line
finally terminating at the Mexican
border, Now, while the sugar beet
belt is theoretically supposed to ex-
TEND for one hundred miles on each
side OF this line, experimental work
has shown that sugar beets can be
raised successfully in many localities
which lie we'll outside Of this limit.
Mr.. Herbert MyriCk, who should
speak with authority, draws the
northern boundary OF the belt from
Troy, N. Y, through Lake Ontario,
central Michigan, central Wisconsin
and Minnesota, northern North Da-
kots and Montana, terminating it OF
the western end of the border line
between the latter State and Canada,
thus including the whole OF Wash
ington and Oregon. The same au-
thorlty draws the southern boundary
OF the belt through Virginia, Tonnes
see, western Kentucky, southern I'LL
nois, central Missouri, southwestern
Kansas, and western Texas to the
Mexican line. If the mean between
the two hundred mile strip and the
broader belt above indicated be taken
as representing the area over which
the sugar beet crop can be succesa-
fully raised, it is evident that the
United States could not only supply
the $l00,000,000 worth OF product
which is now brought in from
abroad, but could take a leading
position in supplying the markets Of
the world.
A soil, losmy and not too stiff,
abundant sunshine, a moderate
amount of moisture and favorable
weather during the period Of ripen-
ing and harvesting are the elements
which constitute q good sugar beet
country, and whenever these have
been present the experiments which
have been made in beet culture have
met with encouraging success. To
render the cultivation Of beets profit
able, however, it is necessary that
the beet farm should be within easy
reach Of beet factory, for il is eu-
dent that the amount Of profit rea-
llzed by the farmer will vary, other
things being equal, as the distance
which his crop has 10 be hauled. In
the present issue we give q detailed
description OF one Of the large and
successful establishments which have
served to demonstrate that our soil,
climate and methods are adapted to
the production Of beet sugar on a
large scale. This factory began
operations in 1891, when 1900 acres
Of beets were grown, which yielded
726 tons Of beets to the acre, the
farmers being paid SO 80 per ton for
the crop and the average return per
acre being $28 81. In 1896, tho acre
age under cultivation had increased
to 1888, and the yield had increased
from 7 rs tons to II 03 tons to the
acre, the farmers receiving on an
average $4 95 per ton for their crop,
the average return being $4Z98 per
acre. During this period, moreover,
the average percentage Of sugar in
the heets had increased from 13 to Is
per cent. The cost OF raising the
beets in the Chino Valley is about
$50 per acre, most of this being due
to labor, which would leave profit
in 1895 OF SIS per acre to the planter.
This agrees fslrly well with Prof.
Wlley's estimate Of a net profit from
So TO SIS per acre as an average, tho
California district being peculiarly
favorable to slarge and reliable crop.
Altogether it must be admitted that
the possibilities Of this new industry,
both for the farmer and ths capital
ist, are great aud not easily oVeres-