The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1897-03-04
HOW TO CROW BETS
Practical Information for the
Northwest Farmer.
FROM G. W. sHAw's REPORT

FROM G. w. SHAW'S REPORT
Difficulties Surmounted by Pioneer
Growsrs-Comparison Between
This and German Climates.
The subject of cultivating sugar beets,
and the manufacture Of sugar from
! them, has been before the people at
different times. When it was seen
that the industry was success in Cali
fornia, the prospect of its introduction
seemed favorable. Persons agitated
the matter with varying success. and
at times individuals made experiments
in producing the beets, some of which
were submitted to analysis. Some of
these experiments did not yield results
as satisfactorily as was hoped, and gave
many the idea that beets containing
sufficient saccharine matter would not
grow here. Other individuals also en-
gagged in producing few sample beets,
devoting more intelligent care to them,
and were rewarded with much higher
percentage Of sugar. Seed have been
brought from foreign countries to be
distributed among farmers in order
that different soils might be tested. Of
such efforts as these were those of Mr..
H. G. Smith, Of Portland, Or. About
the year 1883, Mr.. Smith imported
some Of the beet seed procurable from
Cologne, Germany, and had some sent
from Alvarado, CAL, where a factory is
in successful operation. Both these
quantities were distributed, with in
structions in planting and cultivating
accompanying. From some persons re-
ceiving the seed no replies were ever
obtained, and those who did take the
pains to plant at all, stated, in their re-
port. that but little attention had been
given them. Some simply sowed them,
leaving the plants to struggle with
weeds, ETC., while others gave but the
slightest cultivating. OF course, the
roots yielded little sugar. Nothing else
is to be expected. as the cultivating Of
sugar beets has reached stage of scien-
tifc exactness that anything like best
results cannot be obtained without GER
tain care. This is fair sample of other
individual efforts, some of which have
had the effect of conveying the belief
that the industry is not profitable in
the Northwest.
In 1890, the federal government
passed bounty law, offering 2 cents
pound for domestic sugar testing 80 de-
grees, and u cents for all testing be-
tween 80 and 90, which should be pro-
duced until July 1, 1905. In further
aid, the agricultural department aided
the several states in making expert
ments. Seed was furnished farmers
who would agree to plant and care for
them, and return samples for analysis,
and with reports Of other conditions.
The experiment station at Corvallis,
Or, delivered seed to farms in different
localities of the state in 1891, in accord
ance with this plan. In regard to this
effort, Mr.. g. w. Shaw, chemist, re-
ports in bulletin No. %, the following:
Each year arrangements were made
with farmers in different portions Of
the station to cultivate a small plat of
beets, the seed being furnished them
by the station. Although there was
heavy and ready response by those who
would agree to forward samples for an
alysis, accompanied by report-blanks
for which were furnished-there were
many who never responded to single
inquiry after the seed had been fur
nished, Notwithstanding that they had
expressly agreed to report results.
According to Mr.. Shaw's report, care
full instructions were given in regard to
cultivation. The kind of soil was
specified and the degree of moisture best
for the beets was also named.
The results of these efforts were con-
vincing that beets could be grown with
profit.
The succeeding year preparations
were made to repeat with greater care
the attempts of 1891-1892. Unavoid-
able delay in receiving the seed so that
it could not be planted in April was the
first disbursement. The rainfall dur
ing the season was below normal, and
ali reports showed Every dry" extra
ordinary dry" and weather unfavor-
able"
Mr.. Shaw has made some interest
ing comparisons between the tempera-
ture and precipitation of Oregon and
Germany and France. The era covered
by the figures is from May ] to October
1, the time between planting of seed
and harvesting the beets. In France,
the temperature May Twas 81 degrees
Farenheit, reaching II in June, and
falling to Sc in September; in Ger
many, May starts with 80 degrees,
which rises to 81 in June and falls to
10 in September, and the Willamette
valley starts with "a in May, reaching
Sc in June and falling OF to 50 in Sep
tember.
In Eastern Oregon the temperature
is about five degrees higher than in the
Willamette valley in the middle OF tho
summer, but is not much different at
the beginning and the end Of the sea-
son. It will be seen that the mean
temperature Of Oregon 10 much less than
that Of either France or Germany, and
if mildne1 Of climate il favorable, this
section possesses an advantage over both
Of those countries.
All well-conducted experiments have
shown good products, although many
who have made Indifferent attempts
have been rewarded with very unsatis-
factory returns. Some Of the latter have
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