Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-02-16
Sugar Beet Notes.

At recent meeting of the Michigan
Horticultural Society at Holland, Mich,
two papers were read on sugar beets,
one by O. + Bassett of Allegan on lone
| Seasons Experience with Sugar Beets y
another by Prof. c. ID. Smith of the
Michigan Agricultural College on
Sugar Beets."
Mr.. Bassett related his experiences in
beet raising, asserting that beets are a
paying crop if properly handled.
Prof. Smith declared the growing of
beets blessing TO the farmer. But he
must be accurate. educated TO the work
and have intelligence and skill. The
grower must carefully select the soil,
with an abundance of humus. The
college had advocated not 10 pillow under
fresh manure, and yet the results this
year had proved the advice an unwise
one. 1t was an experimental advice
rather than a positive experience. A
we'll seasoned muck soil will produce
good results. The farmer must apply
business principles. Better have twenty
men one day at thinning time than one
man twenty days and delay in the work.
So they must be cared for and harvested
at the proper time. This year the fine
weather aided us; next year it may not
be. Do not go into the raising on too
big "a scale and do not go out of the bus
mess with one years experience, This
year the business had the measles; next
year it may have the mumps. Get i'm
proved machinery and adjust yourself to
all the conditions required.
The question was asked whether soils
producing good crops this year will be
adapted 10 crop next year. The pro-
fessor answered: Yes, unless the crop
shows fungus disease Follow crops,
if possible, with clover crop. The
pulp this year for feeding purposes is
worth 81 ton; the lime and molasses
is valuable as fertilizer on many soils "
TO insure a crop of 5eets against cut
worms, Prof. Smith said Pillow in the |
fall; pillow under green buckwheat, or
place, two days before planting bran
mixed with poison on the ground in lit. |
tie patches, about one rod apart"
The success of last years short course
of instruction at the Michigan Agricul. |
tural College for those desiring TO
engage in the beet sugar industry has
led the college authorities to announce
a similar course for the spring term of
1900 The course will probably extend
over period of SIX weeks, and will
include instruction in the chemistry of
beet sugar production and upon the
growth and care of the sugar beet crop
will be secured who have
mad actual experience i'll the sugar fac
tories of the state.
Sugar beets have been found one of
the best things that can be fed TO hogs.
They are rich in sugar, which is changed
nto far, and besides this contain min
)raI matter OF use in building mp the
frame of the animal It has also been
ouud that beetfed pigs need but little
'orn to make thrifty growth and that
herds fed regular ration of beets grow
70 larger size at the same age than those
ed almost wholly on corn. while they
ire less subject to attacks of disease.
Stanton Glls.) Times.
-
The Alma sugar factory has now com.
,letely shut down for the season and
nearly all the men employed at the fac
Dry, whose homes are in other localities,
lave left. From the state land commits
toners report for the month of February
We find that 81 ,405 tons and ! 100
pounds of beets were received at the fac
DRY and that 9,267 900 pounds of sugar
vas manufactured therefrom.
-
Sam Grant of Elwell informs Us that
le raised one and three-fourths acres of
ugar beets last year and they netted
Tim profit of over $40 per acre. He
Sill raise beets again this year.