The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1898-04-22
OF MUCH INTEREST TO
FARMERS.

Hall 1uulS udy, 10 OhC VI SiSo' I'LL
portance to the farmers who are
tributary to the city of Mankato. Ano
upon them rests it's solution either
favorable or unfavorable to this sec
tion of the state. They are possessed
of the land upon which to raise the
beets, and if a sufficient quantity OF
beets can be secured. the factory will
be forthcoming. 1t is matter which
the business men of the city cannot
guarantee because they have not and
cannot control the land on which the
beets must be grown.
1t is true that it is somewhat late
in the season for the formulating OF
new plans in regard to crops, but
there is yet time in which to take
action to demonstrate that the ven
ture can be made success.
As the Free Press understands it, if
sufficient beets can be raised, the
factory would be forthcoming this
season, but those who are back Of the
enterprise recognize the fact that 1T
is too late for anything Of that kind
this year, but they have entered upon
plan which will thoroughly demon
strate the adaptibility of this section
of the state to beet raising, and give
the farmers chance to secure fac.
tory next year. All of the beets
planted and raised this year will be
used at a factory at Minneapolis.
And to fully demonstrate that this
section of the state is adapted for
beet culture, they are DESTROYS of get
ting as many farmers as possible who
will plant from one to five acres or
more. In any event they guarantee
the farmer SIS per acre for his beets
and he retain the product in case any
thing happens to the Minneapolis
plant by fire or otherwise. If the
beets are shipped the farmer will re-
ceive on the basis of 81 per ton for
beets that analyze IA per cent sugar
qualities, and rs cents per ton for
every additional degree. With good,
thorough cultivation on good soil, the
beets will yield from 20 to rs tons per
acre, averaging the farmer for beets
that contain IA per cent sugar from
$50 to 500 per acre. 1t has been
demonstrated that beets grown in
this section and given the best of cul-
tiVation will contain from IA to II
per cent sugar, and as Senator Kellar
well said yesterday the more thor
ough the cultivation the more sugar
the beet will contain. On this basis
the farmer is raising no crop that will
pay as well. The Free Press would
not advise any farmer to devote his
entire attention to beet raising, but
believes that he could make it profit
able as one of his leading crops.
The company that Senator Kellar
represents also proposes that if the
farmers will 60 into the matter to a
sufficient extent, to send an agri-
culturist, we'll versed in beet culture,
here, who will 60 around among the
farmers and instruct them in beet
raising, showing them how to get the
best results from that culture. This
is done at no expense to the farmers
whatever. Further than this to pro.
mote the culture of beets, and show
what can be done, they propose, If
sufficient land can be secured for
planting purposes, to bring here from
Nebraska five or six families who will
devote their entire attention to rails
ing beets. For this purpose about 80
acres per family is required, as a fam
lily will easily take care Of that
amount. 1t is not required that the
land be all in one body, but will be
accepted in tracts of from three to
ten acres, in an immediate neighbor-
hood where the members of the fam
lily can easily get to any portion of it.
No house is required as the families
will live in tent and bring all of the
tools necessary. This land will be
worked on shares, or rental price
will be paid for it. In any neighbor-
hood where the farmers are willing to
furnish the land, if they will COM
munlcate at once with E. w. Staede
of this city, or with the Free Press,
the matter will be placed before the
proper parties. Any move Of this
kind must be made at once, as ar
rangements must be made by May l..
Mr.. E. l. P. Staede will receive on
Monday ton of beet seed for distri-
button among the farmers. This seed
will be sold at Is cents per pound, and
will be deducted from the price paid
for the beets in the fall, so that
no cash outlay is now required.
The locating of beet sugar factory
would be of great value to this section
of the state, and would mean an in
crease in the value of farm lands, and
the chance having presented itself the
farmers ought to take every advaBt-
age Of it possible. The board of trade
will hold special meeting to-
morrow morning and ought to