The record-union., 1897-11-02
ACTUAL FACTS WANTED.

The Record Union" appeals to those
who have had experience in beet cul-
ture to formulate and send to this Of
fee the result of that experience.
Actual experiment extending over a
period Of at least five years alone will
be deemed relevant and competent. The
statement must be accompanied by the
name of the grower who made Ii, and
must contain information relating to
the following specific facts:
1. The place where grown.
?. The character of the soil.
B. The dates of the several crops
grown.
f. The quantity obtained in each sea-
son.
s. The kind Of crops used in rotation
with the crops of beets
6. The capacity of soils for the pro-
duction Of the alternate crops and the
effect, if any, upon the fertility of the
soil by reason Of the land having been
cropped in the preceding season to
beets.
Z. The relative profit of beet growing
as compared with other objects of cul-
ture to which the same soils may be
devoted as demonstrated by actual ex-
perience.
s. All facts bearing upon the question
as to whether the cultivation Of beets
does or does not temporarily or perma-
nently defertilize the soils in which they
are grown.
At the suggestion of one of the lead
ing farmers OF the State, the Record
Union" recently published precautfon-
airy statement concerning the answers
to this class of questions. Men are
prone to believe in accordance with
theirs desires, while there is always a
ia-ga number Of specifically interested
persons behind every enterprise which
may be mooted There is the land spec
ulator, the real estate agent, and the
dn5udicious enthusiast. The testimony
Of individuals IN these categories is
worth nothing, and of necessity is at
second hand. What Is wanted is the re-
suit of actual experiment on lands in
California. Experience in other coun-
tries will be worth nothing as deter
mining these questions. The Record
Union has no theory 1t desires to es-
tabHsh IN this case, but it viii devote
the necessary space to the full. fair and
complete eiucidation Of all doubts. so
Tar as the testimony of intelligent ex-
pertmenters may throw light upon the
question.
No statement viii be given publicity
unless all the facts, under the separate
heads hereinbefore mentioned. are pre-
sented so that the experience narrated
may be verified and the land itself may
be examined, and the fact that the crops
were grown as represented may be as
certained by concurrent testimony.
Beet growing is not new in Califor-
MA Some twenty years ago there was
a beet factory IN this city, and beets
were grown in this vicinity and worked
the State beet growing has been prac-
ticed for many years, and out of this
experience the materials for well-in-
formed conclusions may be obtained.
In another column we present the tes-
tinony Of few leading beet-growers
at Watsonville. This testimony was
obtained at the instance OF a gentle
man who had the subject of devoting
lands to beet culture under considera-
tion. The testimony. while throwing
much light upon the subject, is in the
main unsatisfactory as TO the main is
sue involved. to-wit: The liberalization
OF the soil. One grower testified. how
ever, that there was as much money
in potatoes at WatsonvilIe as in beets.
This grower valued his land ar $3.50
per acre, but did not refer that value to
its capacity for beet growing. because
the valuation was placed upon IL after
he had decided TO raise no more crops
OF beets. There are portions OF Cali
fornfa where $3.50 an acre for good
land is asked and obtained. independ-
ent OF any specific culture: as, for in
stance, lands adapted to fruit growing