The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-01-02
Sugar Beet Culture.

pecially timely for Shiawassee county
farmers Mr. Lille is known all over
Michigan as practical and successful
farmer.
The sugar beet industry is rapidly
assuming grand proportions in the
United States. In 1888, practically the
beginning of the industry, 1,OlO tons of
sugar was produced. There has been
a rapid, gradual increase from year to
year until in 1901, 1875, 900 tons of beet
sugar was produced. A larger acreage
was planted in 1907 than ever before
and we may hope to see an increase
year after year until America not only
produces her own sugar but grows sugar
to sell. When this time comes it will
IN ian that America grows over 1000, 600
acres of beets each year.
THE LABOR QUESTION.
The great bugbear that prevents
many from growing sugar beets is the
labor question. The belief is that not
enough labor can be secured to care for
and handle the crop. Yet no crop has
as yet been lost for the want of labor.
The labor question settles itself as soon
as it is resolved to grow the beets. In
every community enough beys and girls
are found to thin the beets and they are
proud of the money earned. The only
drawback is in the harvesting, which
is too heavy work for boys and girls to
do, but no serious trouble has been ex-
perienced here However, the time is
not far distant when American inge-
nuity will solve this problem of labor,
be perfected that will do the pulling
and topping satisfactorily. When this
machine is perfected the grower is pre-
pared to grow beets at lower price
than now if necessary and thus compete
with the world.
Every farmer having . suitable SOIL
and located within reach of a sugar
factory, should grow a certain acreage
of sugar beets every year. Whys Be.
cause, first, when he grows sugar beets
he grows crop that does not compete
in the market with other crops. For
instance large crop of oats affects the
price and consumption of corn, etc.
But the beet crop affects the consump-
tion Of no other crop. Should the Amer.
lean farmer grow beets enough to sup
ply oil the sugar consumed in America
still he would need just as much corn,
just as many oats and as much wheat
as over. Besides every acre Of land de-
voted to the growing of sugar beets
prevents that land from being devoted
to wheat, oats, corn or potatoes. etc
and therefore tends to relieve the mar
ket of surplus of these staple crops.
Hence every acre planted to beets
makes every acre planted to other crops
the more valuable. Indeed it is be-
lieved that the sugar beet crop Is a clear
gain to American agriculture. The sta
pie products, wheat, oats, corn, pota
toes, ETC., will bring just as large 8
total sum as they did before portion
of the land was devoted to the culture
of beets By taking from the market
the staple products that were formerly
; grown on the land now used for beets
the price goes up and the total value
will not be lessened Then this alone
is a good reason why every farmer
favorably situated should grow sugar
beets He not only betters his own con
dition but he betters the condition OF
his brother farmer who is not situated
to grow beets
Second, there is good profit in grow
acre of beets about $50 This will in
clude everything, the preparation OF
the land, sowing, thinning, cultivating,
harvesting, and hauling to market
Where the farmer does portion of the
work (as he willy this is figured the
same as though he. hired. And should
the crop of beets come to only $50 pei
acre the farmer would have pay fol-
every days labor he and his family put
upon the crop. But an average crop OF
beets in Michigan is 10 tons per acre
and the price seldom falls below So pei
ton. This makes a profit of $50 pei
acre above the total cost of raising the
beets. Some of the staple crops will
bring this profit above cost of growing
This then is the second good reason why
every farmer should grow sugar beets
SELECTING THE LAND
Not every field on the ordinary farm
is adapted to the growth Of sugar beet:
and since they are an expensive crop tc
grow it will pay the farmer to select
those fields or parts of fields that are
best adapted for their growth and de
vote the balance to other crops Sol
that contains a fair percentage of clay
should be selected ana it should be wei
supplied with humus. This kind OF
soil works up finely and is well adapted
to hold sufficient moisture TO carry the
crop through the dry season Beside,
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