Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-08-10
A Field Of Sugar Beets.

The following article, taken from The
Wisconsin Sugar Beet published by C.
W. Fraser at MenOm0nee Falls, Will be
of interest to our readers. The article
was accompanied by an illustration of
the 100 acre field of growing beGts:
If any one had been skeptical as to the
impractibiiity of an association Of city
business men successfully raising a crop
| Of sugar beets, their misgiyings would
be convinced that the very best way
to determine the suitability Of soil
and natural facilities for growing the
crop could be done in just the very way
that the business men Of WatertOWn set
about to raise 100 acres Of beets for the
WiscOnsin.Sugar cOmpany's plant. They
got together and raised fund sufficient
to meet all expenses up to the time Of
harvesting the beets. They used good
Judgment in selecting a piece Of land
near d railroad track. The 1G0acTe piece
which they leased is within 500
feet of the C. NJ. & st. P. R'y track
and when the time comes to harvest
they will have d side track put in
and dump their beets from the field
right into the ears. But this is not all.
the field Of beetS in question are in all
respects d most model one. 1t bears evil
dence on every square rod of il has had
the very best care. cultivation and atten-
ti0n. Lying quite high and in one part
nearly mile long il shows a most per-
feet stand. Aud then again the thin
ming was done i'll excellent shape: each
beet is a certain distance apart. There
is not weed to be seen in the whole 100
acre tract. Now, this was all accom-
plished by the energetic effort Of the men
gl,., -,
ness men who were interested i'll seeing
this project 60 through wisely selected a
committee Of gentlemen who have done
splendidly the duties eXacted Of them in
looking to the accomplishment of this
work.
The gentlemen of this committee are:
S. M0lZahn, PRESIDENT; Gustav Buchheit,
secretary; }. f. Prentiss, treasurer. They
employed as their superintendent, Otto
Hiideman. The best proof Of the extra
care and attention this field must have
had is best evidence in the fine appearance
of the crop and ijWas not done without
some labor either. The pi0wing in the
5pring which was deep turned up lot
of wild oats and this had TO be subdued,
then the Canada thistes came and in
turn they were subjected to the hoe.
The work Of thinning was done by the
row and many boy and girl realized as
high DIS @l.JO a day conditional up0n the
quality OF work in punching and thinning
which came under the Watchful eve OF the
superintendent i'll charge. Ii was said
to be a picturesque sight to look over
that field and see over 100 men, women
and children busily engaged and the
business mems association soon observed
that this money paid cut for labor found
its way back through the channels Of
trade and all stayed right in WatertoWn
Then again while the continued drought
which was burning up every field i'll the
vicinity and which made farmers appre-
hensiye Of a failure Of their crops, the
WatertOWn business mems association
saw that the sugar beet was successfully
battling with the hot and dry weather
and that it was holding its own which
one fact ought TO go long ways iii its
favor. 1t did stand the drought and sent
its tap root into the soil TO secure m0is-
ture. Then another thing about this
field Of sugar beets it has proven be-
yOnd question that the s0ii i'll that yicin-
ity is suitable for the reason that when
we cultivate 100 contiguous acres in any
crop and find as perfect stand as there
is in this field even when ali the prepar-
alton was Of necessity done in the spring
it must be suitable soil Then as to the
cost, the committee, through its treas
Wer has an accurate knowledge Of what
the field has cost them thus far aud
informed us that they were very we'll
satisfied and with one more cultiya-
tion their beetS viii be laid bye await
ing the harvest.
The Wisconsin sugar Beet is convinced
that WdteIt9Wn will have a sugar fac
tory next year. The farmers have been
taught a practical lesson in the culture
Business mems Beet Growers Associa-
tiGn. They can secure 1000 acres in and
about that city and if they do capital,
much Of which can be secured right
there, will take up the factory part of it.
Wisconsin Sugar Beet.