The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-01
BOW Our AgricuIturiSt Makes the Small Farm Yield
Handsome Revenue.
BoundleSS Agricultural Resources of the State-Utah Plan
of Farming-CrOp Yields and Prices.
By j. A. WRIGHT, OGDEN, UTAH.

beet industry, there has been oDened a
way for the farmer of a scant ten
acres to place himself and family be-
yond the fear OF poverty. Whereas
ten acres devoted to diversified farm
ing, even under the most intense culti-
walton, returns no surplus above a llV-
ing, the same amount of and devoted
to beet culture with only one acre for
the family garden, returns annually
from $500 to $500 in cash to the far-
mer. This is realized from the six OF
seven acres of sugar beets, which yield
sixteen to twenty o n to the acre,
worth, at the factory. never less than
"a per ton, frequently $3.50. 1t is not
claimed that h returns herein stated
are net profits, since each acre OF beets
requires labor amounting to from S2I
TO $40 annually, but this labor is almost
invariably performed by members OF
the family, and, therefore, need not be
considered an outlay.
The beet sugar industry has been a
blessing to Utah. and its effects are
only just beginning to be felt. The fac
tory at Lehi, which has been in opera
ton eight years. has transformed that
community from one of only average
prosperity into a settlement Of indie
pendent farmers. all of whom are free
from debt, and many with money to
loan on good security. In the mean
lllllC GkCLS d(4E VI III boO ~
beet culture within a radius of twenty
miles of the sugar factory has doubled
in financial value because Of the de-
mand for sugar beets. Nor does the
successive cropping to beets in the
least deplete the soil. On the On
trary, the best yield of beets at Lehi
in 1898 was in soil thai had borne
eight crops in succession. h is ac-
counted for by the fact that the thor
ough cultivation of the soil demanded
by the beets produces that perfect filth
which makes available every particle
OF plant food; also the return of the
green tops M a reasonable amount OF
~barnyard more than supplies
the elements that are taken out by the
sugar beets.
Further evidence of the beneficial eff
fects of beet culture is found in the
fact thai last year, at Lehi. land which
had grown sugar beets seven years in
succession produced wheat yielding
fifty bushels per acre. No stronger
argument in favor of intense cultiva-
ton could possibly be presented than
the conditions as they exist at Leht.
So satisfactory has been the eXper-
fence of the promoters OF the Lem
sugar factory nat a number of the
same capitalists have united with 9TH
ers in establishing a irst-class factory
at Ogden. More than n million dol
lars has been invested in these two fac
tories, and $3.50, 600 is annually dis
bursed for sugar beets and labor. The
annual output Of granlated sugar from
the two factories is IL, 000, 900 pounds.
Judging from the experience and re-
suits OF the Lehi plant, it is confidently
expected that the farmers about Og-
den EEl reap great gain from beet Gull
ture. The season of 1888 brought all
the success that could De expected by
beginners, and the acreage Will be
doubled by Ogden farmers in 1899. Both
factories are paying dividends, and the
stock is above par, the Ogden shares
selling for $106 Dec. u. 1898. while stock
in the Utah factory is practically out
of the market, because of the high pre-
MUM.
And the end is not yet, for already
plans are being formed for the erection
-f two more sugar factories in Utah.
Within h next ten years it is highly
probable that the output of Utah sugar
factories Will exceed one hundred mill
lion pounds per annum or sufficient to
supply a population six times as great
as that of Utah today. Granted that
the sugar industry shall receive atten-
ton elsewhere equal to that now be-
ing given to it in Utah. and that &C
tories shall spring up as if by magic
in other states, still the view should
be optimistic, for, be it remembered
that the consumption of sugar in the
United States is siXty-three pounds
per capita every year, which means a
total consumption by one hundred mil
lions of people Of $500, 600, 900 pounds Of
sugar. With annual capacity of s.
900, 900 pounds of sugar each. it would
require the total output of 1850 fac
tories to supply the demand in the
United States. Moreover. there is fur
ther assurance to the Utah farmer
that whatever of competition may
arise, the experience already acquired.
the fertile sol and absolute control.
through irrigation, of the water supply.
viii enable MIN to successfully compete
with the farmers who must annually
face the hazard of drouth or untimely
rainfall. Should the factories ever
multiply beyond the required number.
hen viii wage the struggle for the sur
vival of the %ittest, and Utah will prove
herself the "fttest."
DAIRYING.
No state in the Union presents better
natural conditions for dairying. The
first settlers occupied and farmed the
bottom lands, selecting the lowest be-
cause Of the ease with which water
could be carried oyer the land for irri-
cation. AS capital and engineering
skill became more plentiful. larger
dams were built. and canals carried
to the first and second benches. The
irrigation of the bench lands during the
past dozen years has caused a surplus
of water, through seepage, on the rich
bottom lands. Thus there are thou
sands of acres of the former fertile bot
tom lands that are fitted for only hay
and ~Dasturage now.
Another fact most favorable to dairy
ing is the wonderful amount of forage
that can be raised en- an acre of irri-
gated land. Lucern, which is eCuiva-
lent, ton for ton, to the finest red
clover, yields from four to ten tons Fer
acre in the three cuttings each year
Then the weather through hay harvest
is always such as to perfectly cure the
hay without the slightest damage from
rain or dew. Other forage and roc
crops, such as corn fodder, kafir corn,
carrots and ~rutabagas, yield prodig-
iorsly, and are harvested in prime con-
dition.
Another point most favorable to
dairying is the abundant supply OF
clear, pure water flowing from the
mountain springs. The combination OF
these natural favorable conditions rem
ders dairying n of the surest and
most profitable of any of the special
lines in agriculture. Strange as it may
seem, until within the past five years.
Utah did not produce sufficient butter
and cheese to supply the home market.
At present there is a lively interest in
dairying, aroused and stimulated main
ly by the energetic and intelligent ac-
ton of Professor F. B.. Linfeld, in
structor in dairying and animal in
dustry at the Utah Agricultural col
lege. Through the lectures and person.
al visits by Professor Linfield TO the
farmers throughout the state, there
are now in operation modern creameries