The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-23
DARKER FOR BETS
Very Little Encouragement
Gained From Experts.
CULTURE AREA LIMITED
Besides Sugar Making Labor
Is Cheaper in Tropics.

Washington, March 22.-In thhe discus
sion of beet-sugar prospects. which is
now at its height it is apparent that the
representatives of this new industry are
taking an altogether too optimistic view
Of its possibilities in this country. One
iced only open a treatise issued a few
months ago by the Department Of hgri-
culture. which IS really the head of the
beet-sugar propaganda, TO learn that
there are decided limitations to the growth
Of the beet in many parts OF the coun-
try. The farmers, il seems, we're re-
quested by the department to send sam
pies Of beets that they were raising to
Washington for Analysis, and upon them
a report vas made. From Illinois. for ex-
ample, one hundred samples have been
received. of which the average size Of
the beet was normal, but both the con-
tent Of the sugar and coeficient of purity
were below the standard"
Two hundred and thirty-fve samples
from Indiana showed that state as prac-
tically in the same rank as sugar-pro-
Queer as Illinois. The report adds that
il is not advisable to try to carry the
commercial growing Of sugar-beets fur
Their south than the central part Of the
states. From Iowa several hundred sam
pies were received. bat the Department
says that their content of sugar falls
just short Of the average standard fixed
Tor successful manufacture The Iurity
Of the Iowa beets is remarkably low, when
their content Of sugar is considered. This
fault can doubtless be remedied by more
care culture"
AS 70 Kansas, this exhaustive study OF
conditions includes that the climate is
not suitable to growing high-grade sugar
beets. The summers are TOO long and
too dry. Ire uniformly low sugar content
OF the samples received from KENTUCKY
is mot encouraging" The samples re-
ceived from Maine the bulletin says,
were remarkably poor in quality" Mary
land appears ito be one of the states
which are just on the border separat ting
the god from the different areas for beet
sugar production. The data obtained
from Minnesota are not so favorable as
theoretical indications would lead one TO
New Hampshire the bulletin recites that
the character of the soil and the contour
of the state will prevent beet culture
from ever becoming an industry of great
magnitude One cannot "as a whole, be
regarded as favorable to beet culture.
From Oklahoma, the data are distinct
~ unfavorable." The samples received
from Virginia ARE not encouraging to
the belief that a successful beet-suga-
can be established therein" And
so one might proceed.
The places where the beet-sugar indus
try may be expected to thrive, if the De
partment's views are correct, are certain
parts of California, Colorado, Idaho. New
York, Michigan. Nebraska, Oregon and
Utah. with. of caourse. smaller areas in
other states. The irrigated lands OF such
states as Utah and Colorado seem the
most suitable. and, if the government Will
further subsidize the industry by raying
for the irrigation. the crop will DOUBTLESS
prove a great success. Michigan seems
TO be doing most right now. and although
its availability for the industry is not
doubted, the expert Investigations are
rot wholly ffattering. The Department
conclusion is this, after examining 100
samples: There is little doubt Of the
fact that Michigan is one of the most
favorable localities in the United States
for the growing Of hiEh-grade sugar beets
When the farmers of the state thoroughly
learn the art of successful beet culture.
they viii be able to compete with even
the more favored districts OF Europe
both in the quality Of the beets produced
and in the yield per acre"
Nebraska is another state in which the
beet early impressed itself upon politics
and politicians. Even Senator Thurston
" no wept so eloquentiy over Cuba before
the war, began to turn a cold shoulder
towards her shortly afterwards in way
that surprised eastern observers. 7 was
the beet that old it. OF this state the
says: Many years ago the /
culture Of the sugar-bee have /
distinctly fixed the status OF Nebraska /
IN respect to this industry 1t mas been 1
demonstrated that beet-sugar car be i
made in Nebraska, but it is evident from /
he data Of the last few years that Ne l
araslSs does not rank 50 high as some /
IF the other states in its capsbility OF ]
sising high-grade suEar-b eets.
1t thus appears that il the race be- 1
ween the temperate and the torrid Zones +
lver the production Of sugar. we have /
10 extraordinary advantages, even when /
.een by the eyes Of those who have most /
II heart the success Of the beet-sugar +
Industry. The diseases Of the highly de-
-eioped beet are sure TO give the scientific f
xperts Of the Department good deal Of I
rouble. Pages % this bulletin are devot- I
q 70 it IN which i've distempers are dis
ussed En- detail. When It IS considered +
,cw much German scientists have done
7r the de- elopment of this plant. il may
ven be wondered what would ne the con-
iition Of the same crop today had IL ever
eceived anywhere near 50 much STUDY
nd attention.
How 20 compete in this country with
he labor o. the tropics IS another serious
roblen. The labor Of the west IS too
Ugh prices for the beet-culture. even with
Is heavy present protection AMI the
counties which many q the states ere
aging SCme people believe THAI New
FORK WI become great sugar state.
[ this country decides 70 keep OFT the
aue. because of the large numbers II
.ewly arrived Immigrants from southern
III eastern Euroae vho could b SET 70
york by whole families IN the beet-aelds.
Great Memory fer Books.