The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1901-08-29
SUGAR BETS IN YAKIMA.
Tests Show That They Can Be Raised Profit
ably Here-Faetory Needed.

The raising Of sugar beets is a matter
that is just now receiving considerable
attention from everybody concerned in
the future of the favored valley Of the
Yakima. While nothing definite has
been done lately as an impetus to the
industry, there has been much talk and
many rumors to the effect that before
another year rolls by sugar beet fac
tory will be established here aud the
growing OF the product will be entered
into extensively by the farmers. II has
been demonstrated by scientific txperi-
pents that the Yakima valley is the
most a,ored place in the United States
for the growing Of beets, and Oh these
experiments the people base their hopes
for success in the undertaking should
the means of utilizing the product be
placed in their way. 1t has been four
years since these experiments were
made, and still during the interval SINCE
then, 1897, local growers have been ex-
perimenting in small way to prove as
conclusively as possible that what was
learned under the scientific test was not
rated too high. And the results have
been highly satisfactory and confirm all
that was accomplished by the state ex-
perimental station,
1t was in the summer of 1897 that
Thomas Cooper, western land agent OF
the Northern Pacific railway, took charge
OF the work and directed the expert
ments, with F. E. Deringhoff as field
agent. Four hundred pounds of seeds
were distributed among 40 far.n 10.
Gated between North Yakima and Pros
ser. Everyone OF these farmers planted
the seed and attended to the cultivation
OF the plant, treating it according to the
quality OF the soil and the location.
When the crops were harvested the sam
pies from the different farms were test
ed, and the results obtained varied to a
certain extent in every instance, but the
general result was the same These ex-
periments proved that the Yakima soil
is the natural home OF the sugar beet.
Scientific analysis showed higher per-
centage of sugar in the beets than is OBJ
tanned anywhere in the country. The
average sugar in these beets was about
Is per cent and of about IS per cent
purity. The lowest yield per acre was
II tons and the highest was 80, with an
average of 90 tons per acre. These tests
gave forth such surprising results that
the matter was commented on general
ly over the country. They show that
not only is the percentage of sugar in
juice and sugar in beet is high, but that
the yield per acre is immense. In com
parison it may be stated that recent
tests in eastern Washington show an
average of about tons to the acre, and
the yield in some OF the best sugar beet
sections of the country is not over ~
tons. In speaking about the Yakima
tests the conductor of the station said
in his annual report:
"This estimate has been criticised,
and in a recent issue::of the Sugar Beet
the following statement was made:
Such averages for superior beets have
never been obtained in areas, say, of
1000 acres for then the tonnage would
be sufficient for an average sugar factory,
which it never has been.' Because such
averages have never been obtained, it
does not follow that they never will be
neither does it argue that over estimate
for this state is too high. Taking the
results obtained in the past years ex-
periments we are inclined to think our
figures too low. rather than too high"
Walter N. Granger of the Sunnyside
canal has had as much to do studying
the conditions of the valley with regard
to growing beets as any other man in
the state. 1t was on his place at Zillah
that yield OF 30 tons to the acre was
obtained when the original tests were
made, and since that time he has been
continuing the experiment. The ground
on which these beets were grown was
we'll watered and particular care was
given to the cultivation of the plant.
The result has been of such nature
that no doubt remains about the valley
being the ideal place for the manufac-
ture of sugar from the sugar beet.
"a representative OF some eastern cap
italists was here short time ago look
ing over the field with view to locating
a sugar beet factory" said Mr.. Granger