The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-11-30

makes better farmers Slip-shod and
haphazard methods of farming must give
place to system and scientific methods.
The successful sugar beet grower must
be a good farmer.
We would not advise the fruit grower
to tear up his orchards and vineyards
and plant sugar beets. neither would we
suggest such procedure to the hop grow
er But more or less of the farm lands
of this valley are devoted to general
farming: in fact. the general farmer be
longs to the great majority, and every
successful general farmer has some sys-
tenn of crop rotation The general farm
er should be a sugar beet grower, because
the sugar beet crop has been proven to
be one of the best for system of rota-
ton. 1t increases the fertility of the soil,
yields a sure return in profits, and broad
ems and strengthens the base of farm OPP
eratiOnS.
The avearge yield for this valley should
not fall below, and we believe it Will eX-
coed, 20 tons of beets per acre. The price
will average $500 per ton. At this price
and yield the farmer would net $1,000 per
acre, and higher for the possibilities
range as high as 40 tons per acre.
In localities where the industry has
been established for a term of years, the
farmer does not stop in counting his
profits, with the acres devoted to the cul-
| tiVatiOn of beetS he takes into cOnSid-
Grafton the increased productveness of
his land devoted to these crops and his
increase in value of livestock produced
upon the farm.
AS an illustration of what the beet SUI
gar industry will do for an agricultural
county when the conditions are favorable,
one has but to visit Michigan and Colo
RADIO where factories have been estab-
lished. Evidences of prosperity and pro-
gress are seen ON every hand. The con-
dtions at several points in Colorado,
particularly at Greedy. are similar to
those of the Yakima valley, except that
it is our opinion your climate is superior
and your farmers are perhaps more pro-
gressve and somewhat further advanced
| in horticultural methods and ought To
produce corcspondingly better results in
sugar beet growing.
There are eight sugar factories in Col
orado and last year nearly 100000 tons
of beets were grown. netting the farmers
oeNr two millions of dollars and from
which over five million dollars worth of
| sugar was produced. Cities and towns
We're improved in general appearance,
the population and volume of business
greatly increased. As a result of the rap
id development of this industry. land val
ues have advanced railroads have been
built and the live stock and dairying in
dustries have rapidly grown.
At Greedy the factory sliced $4,000 tons
of beets paying the farmers $250.000 and
during the campaign from October 10th
/ to Jan. 18th. the pay of employees
amounted to $4,000 and during the re
mainder of the year. to $4,000. The
best farmers are enthusiastic. one man
with % acres harvested % tons per acre.
I
The price paid for beets was $3.50 per
ton. Over 90 900 tons of pulp We're pro-
duced 90 per cent of which was used
within two miles of the factory as stock
feed.
From 60 to so per cent of the weight of
beetS is turned out in the form of pulp.
and a Cotton plant running a full cam
pign will return from 10000 to 30. 600 tons
Colorado this pulp was found to be worth
1 $3.50 ton for fattening cattle. At the
Michigan experiment station in compar-
isOn with other stock feed the pulp was
found to be worth s2.05 per ton; in New
York for dairy cows it is equal to one
half ton of silage or about $500.
In Colorado and Nebraska the farmers
and stock raisers are using the pulp pro-
duct of the sugar factories to great adj
vantage in fattening sheep and cattle.
while in Chicago, stock so fattened is
commanding the highest price on the
market.
The sugar factory at Lowell. Neb was
built through the efforts Of the Standard
Cattle Co, that they might secure the
pulp for feeding purposes, and 1t Is
stated that this company during the
campaign feeds upwards of 1000 head Of
cattle and from 10000 to So, 000 sheep,
not upon pulp alone but in combination
with hay and other kinds of feed.
Since coming to your city have been
surprised at the vast quantities of hay
produced and shipped from this valley
and learn that il is almost impossible to
procure cars sufficient to handle the pro-
duct, You annually winter large num-
bers of sheep and cattle, and stock feed
ing is an industry of no mean Importance.
In combination with the pulp product
Of a sugar factory. this industry Of fat
tening cattle and sheep for the market
would assume greater proportions. Your
hay and pulp should be turned into beef
and mutton. 1t is thus more easily ship
ped and returns greater and more GER
tain profits to the farmer and stock rails
err Dairying too should receive greater
attention. These two branches of in
dustry when fully developed would open
a wide and profitable field for the en-
ployment Of capital and labor that would
greatly add to your commercial import
ance.
How are we TO interest the Yakima
farmer In this enterprise when he is so
well satisfied with the present results of
his farm operations? What special at
fractions has the sugar beet crop? How
VIII II compare with other crops produced
in this locality? One of the most hopeful