The Delta independent., 1898-04-08

Sugar Dsst nsstiss.
A r2ther small but interestsd number
Of ranchmen met at the court room last
Tuesday afternoon 10 listen to W. j.
Holmes, OF Glenwood Springs. on sugar
beet culture. Judge Henry vas chair
man.
The board OF county commissioners
we're invited TO be present at the meet.
ing, and adjourned the sitting OF the
board and became part Of the gathering.
MIR. Holmes was called to the platform
to address the audience. In beginning
Of the establishment Of sugar beet fac
tories, but rather the raising Of the beets
as an article Of stock feed. to fatten for
market cattle, hogs, lambs and other
animals where corn was required, in fact
the substitution OF beets for corn for
fattening and hardening purposes. He
advised the planting and raising Of boots
under the directions OF the Agricultural
college and having the proper tests made
by that institution for purity and sugar
making qualities, SO that in case inquiries
were made by parties proposing to es-
tablish beet sugar factories. official data
could be at hand as to what the climate
and soil OF the Western Slope would do.
To encourage the farmers to educate
themselves in beet culture and to find
out by experience the value OF the beets
for other purposes than sugar making.
A factory can be secured al any time II
is demonstrated that beets OF sufficient
purity and per cent OF sugar can be raised
in any section. Around Fort Collins
and Greeley. where tho fatteping of
lambs for the eastern markets has be-
come an immense industry, thesubstitu-
tion OF the beet for corn 10 becoming
around Rocky Ford and other south
eastern sections Of the state. Not only
are the beets being fed to lambs. but to
beef cattle and TO hogs as we'll. 10 place
OF corn, with great success. At Rocky
Ford it is estimated that the sugar beet
is worth 81 ton to feed lambs; in Cur.
field county % ton rs feed for beef
cattle. From to s pounds Of beets to
the lamb per day and all the alfalfa they
will eat is sufficient 10 prepare them for
market and no corn will be required.
Mr.. Holmes idea is TO raise beets for
feeding with our alfalfa. The Agricultu-
raj college will furnish 2 pounds of the
best beet seed to each farmer to plant.
with full directions for planting and
cultivation and will furnish free trans
portation OF samples for testing to that
place and will test them for sugar per-
centage and purity and furnish csrti6-
Gates Of tho same. The Denver Chamber
OF Commerce has set aside $50 to each
county for prizes to those raising the
best samples, providing the county will
add 500 more. making the cum of e156
tn be distributed among the contestants.
Mr. Holmes idea was to offer one first
prize Of e25 for the best results;2 prizes
Of els each for second best; 2 prizes OF
$40 each for third best and 15 prizes Of
e5 each orfourth best. making 2Oprizes
OF total Of el5O. The tests will be certi-
fled to the board Of county commissioners,
who will award the prizes.
Mr.. McGinty detailed transformations
in California among the beet rsisers for
the sugar factories and Of the exactions
Of the factory managers. where the beets
are raised for sugar making alone.
The newspapers Of the county were
requested to take applications OF ranch