The Red Cloud chief., 1902-02-07
BACTERIA IN BETS.
The Sugar Variety Found to Be a
Prey to Parasitic Enemies.
Nebraska E,verSs ~ WORK On Curss
whisA Are Necessary 20 the
Prosperity of the Industry
In That s4ats.

Drought in Nebraska will be robbed
of most of its terrors when the cult
walton Of the sugar beet becomes
general among the farmers of the
central and western sections OF the
state. During the past season fully
S7OO, 900 profit represents the amount
garnered in by the cultivation OF the
plant.
In addition two specialists in the
employ Of the government are busily
engaged in studying the parasitic en-
rmies of the sugar beet aud will pub
fish "A detailed report of their cx-
periments in the spring before the
season for planting begins, says a
Lincoln report TO the New York
Journal.
The great Platte valley promises
to be a lucrative field for the sugar
beet raiser. There Is an abundance
Of water In the fall and spring. The
ground can be flooded at both pc
RODS, and as the beets can endure
six weeks Of the worst possible dry
weather without injury, there is
nothing to fear in the summer sea-
son when the tickle stream becomes
an arid bed of shifting sand.
At present there are three fac
tories in the state, two Of them in
active operation. The Norfolk plant
has a capacity of 400 tons Of beets a
day. This meant that from IS to 40
tons of sugar 10 prepared for the
market each day. The factory at
Amss, Neb., is still larger and can
dispose Of 425 tons of beets in the
course OF a day. The prevalence of
beet diseases and the injudicious use
Of the Platte river water during the
summer are the two causes which
have reduced the production of beets
nea Grand Island and led to the
closing of the factory at that place.
But the plant is being remodeled
during the period of enforced idle
ness. The irrigation disputes are now
being u%ntangled, and there is reason
to anticipate a busy season next
year.
In the valley of the Platte sugar
beets excel in both quality and guam
tity. The yield is from Is to 30 tons
to the acre, as against S to Is ons
in the eastern section of the state.
The market price varies from 81 to
$4,75 a ton.
The cost Of production varies with
the skill and experience of the farm
cr. 1t is only in exceptional cases
that the expenditure, including money
and labor, exceeds $50 per acre. At
Minden. North Platte, and Kearney
there are many growers who reduce
the expense to $50 per acre.
Planting the beets in the spring.
wedding them, topping and gathering
in the beets must be done by hand.
IL il i'm the skillful utilization of the
hired help that the inexperienced lose
money and the expert growers ad-
wise the amateurs to begin with small
patches and gradually learn the bust
ness. The beet farmer must be near
n railroad. Unless this is the case the
labor of hauling them to market will
eat a large hole in the profits of the
season.
w NI' VI 'io' ''s''' sAN
sugar beets. The most prevalent dur
ing the last season was root decay
George g.. liedgcock, sugar beet ex'
pert in the employ of the United
States department of agriculture, has
discovered seven forms of this dis
ease. He is now in Nebraska making
an investigation of these diseases
INh. ,,ruunn,a &c n,n1J in Tho nrntni
leads to one kind, while the other sill
are caused primarily by bacteria.
Root decay sometimes leads 10
bitter disappointment to the ineI
p%erienced grower. The leaves flour
ish and the plants appear healthy II
every particular. But the disease hal
attacked the very base of the Ions
tap roo Steadily the bacteria con
sumo the body of the beet, and wheI
the expectant farmer pulls the bee
in the fall he is amazed TO discove,
that he has nothing except a field o
tops.
/. Spotted leaf" Is the other pes
which annoys and discourages tn
beet grower. II is q m~ysteriou
: cnemlcai cndnRe III the Pisht' "hiS
n%eutralizes the sugar producing qua
tiles and makes it useless for manu-
featuring purposes. Spots on tn
leaves tell the story of failure to tn
knowing ones, and sugar experts ca
easily determine the trouble from tn
soggy texture of the beet.
Changing crops seems to be a SUI
remedy for either OF these diseases
but the government experts hope I
have some more ~eficacious remed
by next spring. The rotation pla
allows a beet crop only once in thrt
years, Corn, wheat and then sug'
beets is the order recommended
Offset the ravages of the diseases.
Parental Duty.