Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1904-09-09
GROWERS HAVE CHOICE
Of THREE CONTRACTS.
Manufacturers Association Has
Finally Come to Decision.
NEW METHOD OF UNLOADING
BEETS At FACTORY SHEDS.
Other News of Crors and Suggestions
for Their Care.

Now is the time 10 make up you
mind what piece Of land you will pu
into beets next year, aud get il ready
and il Viii mean money to you in mex
seasons work. The land should be fal
| rlowed, and YOU viii get better result.
next season If You plow now.
This years crop has the appearar Ct
Of being one of the best raised since the
sugar industry began, aud the farmer
who has good acreage is lucky, although
the beets were trihe late in getting
started, they have been favored with
exceptionally good weather, and the
indications are that pulling will bef n
at the usual time from October to 10.
This crop is proving a blessing to many
I farmers who had a short wheat and oat
crop, and VIII depend upon it for their
cash.
The harvest will soon be here, and
tests now being made prove that the
crop will be the best grown since 1901.
beets should be harvested when AT
maturity, and Of this you Will be inform.
ed by Agriculturist Allen, who will put
In his time now for some weeks in max
ing the tests. Nearly every farmer can
discern for himself when beets are ripe.
The leaves droop and take on yellow
cast, and the sooner they are harvested
after this the better as they have now
reached their maximum Of sugar con
tents and purity, and longer delay in
the ground Is liable TO cause losses from
different causes Warm fall rains are
detrimental as they give new growth 10
the beets and cause a loss OF sugar an 1
purity.
The Michigan Beet Sugar Manufac-
turers' Association will next season offer
thu farmers three forms OF contracts for
beets. They will be given the choice Of
a contract paying 50 per ton flat for beets
delivered at the factory; $4.75 per ton
delivered on cars, factories paying the
freight, or the old contract at $50 per
ton for IL per cent beets aud 80 l-2 cents j
additional for each additional per cent
OF sugar. 1t is claimed by the factories /
that the fat rate will appeal TO only |
such farmers as do not care to improve |
crops ana wish only to be sure Of money.
The division Of territory has also been
decided upon Tor both this and next
year, and it is announced that there
will be 40 cutting into each others
territories by the factories.
The Alma Sugar Co. are going to place
n operation in their beet sheds, mechan-
cal devices for unloading beets
With tbeet nets. These nets are
placed in the wagon before il is loaded,
icing allowed to project over the sides
" the wagon. On being driven into :
he sheds, this net 10 grsppled by large {
looks and the entire lead is dumped in {
very few seconds. This method OF un- I
oading is going to be demonstrated to q
he farmers and they will have an oppor. c
unity 10 purchase one at very nominal 8
ost II they so desire. The great amount 7
time saved in dumping q load OF five =
r SIX tons Of beets by this method, can I
eadily be seen, and the prospects OF h
eiDg able to haul three and possibly q
Dur loads OF beets per day by the use OF v
ais method against an average of two r
r three loads by the slow process, will
OF be overlooked by the prosperous n
.rmer nj