Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-08-29
e
(AGRICULTURE)
Agsaa<ss 49,,
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Mr.. Edward c. Post. Secretary OF
. cooperative beet sugar company OF
Michigan. has been obtaining some
figures showing the location Of the
sugar In beets. The object was 10
ascertain how low tho beets should
10 topped. The general opinion pre-
walls that the top OF the beet con-
tains very little sugar and may as
well DO cut on. by the top is meant.
not the leaves. but that part OF the
beet above the surface Of the ground.
Mr.. Post had samples Of his beets
taken and analysed. Every beet was
cut Into four portions. One OF
these was tbs beet above the ground
line. The rest OF the beet was then
divided Into three equal portions by
measurement. One lot of bsets con-
sisted OF roots that were about ideal
as to form. growing very largely bc-
low tho surface OF the ground. The
four sections OF the beets averaged.
counting from the top. top. it.s per
cent sugar. iirsts l5.2 per cent. Sec
onas. i4.5 per cent. thirds l<.3 per
cent.
Tho second lot OF beats had con.
siderable portion OF their huiks above
the ground: the figures ran li.i.
it.iG. lI.5 and III. In this lot the
sugar content was about as good as
In the first. but not quite. The aver.
age Was i+.t against l4.9 with tho
iirst lot. The third lot of bcets grew
very largely above the ground. and
the whole sugar content OF the bce.s
seemed to be lowered by this fact.
The percentage ran lis. 1?.3. l2.o
and i:.6. with nm average of i1.9. A
large spranslc-rootcd beet that had
grown largely above the surface was
examined and found TO average for
tho whole beet 10 per cent sugar. a
beet OF this kind would not be accept
cd at the factories At all. II 10
data obtained by the gentleman
named certainly favor tho bccts that
grow mostly below tho ground. Thcy
do. however. show that II IL n mis-.
take TO cut OF very much Of tho top
OF tho best before Il Is put Into tho
process OF sugar making. ns this top
really contains about as much sugar
as does any other part Of tho beet.
Problems Of the Grasses.
rakin. into eonsid. ration tho his
tory OF experiment station work ms
related to stock feeding. Il seems
that the cheapest beef and tho cheap.
est milk can be made through the
medium OF excellent pastures. In
fact. may not the rise. growth and
development Of the western states be
largely attributed to the phenomenal
development Of the stock interests In
that section which In turn may be
traced TO the excellence OF thn Erax-
Ing. which the primeval prairi"s af.
forded. and which has now been 30
ruthicssiy destroyed through tho
greed and avartcc OF mani The val.
ne OF meadows and pastures Is too
clearly established for the question to
admit OF argument, 80 that the real
problem that comes home TO every
farmer to-day Is how to obtain the
needed hay and grazing for the ma!ntc-
nance of his notwithstanding f'ocks
aud herds. Meadows and pastures o:
the most excellent quality can be es-
tablishcd In the middle south In spite
of the pcss!mist!c view taken by many
farmers and the numerous failures
which are recorded with these cropa
In the tirst place. most OF the attempts
TO grow grasses and clovers fall be-
cause the problem 10 gone nj from the
wrong end. Not many people realize
what vital influence the kind and
character Of the soil may have on the
growth and development Of these
crops. nor do they understand that
the general need Of humus In tho soil
accounts for very many of the disns-
;rous failures reported. II does seem
strange chat anyone should believe
that grasses and clovers should all be
equally well adapted to either sandy
or sraveliy. loauy or clayey soils. and
that they should give the same re-
suits when seeded Unfortunately on
first or second bottom lands or on poor
upiands.-Andrew N. Soule.