The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-11-02
PROFITS IN SUGAR BETS.
Experiences of Growers in Places Less
Favored Than Yakima,


As is we'll known, the Rocky Ford
country. in Colorado. is one of the most
prominent sections of the country in SUI
gar beet culture. After the first year
of the experiments with sugar beet
growing there, a special committee of
business men was appointed to investi-
gate the industry AM zee what results
had been obtained 1.is committee wa
composed of J. w. Horgan, C. +. Pugh
\. l.. Gibson, Longmoni, Col; Ceorg, W
| Wilson, Bcrthoud, CO.; Wilbur l.
Thornton, Loveland. COL; F. w. Baker
Fort Collins, Col; ami j. NJ. Davis o:
Windsor, Col. The committee made an
extensive report, "a sell upon the pei
sonal experiences of farmers of all
ly, as will be seen by extracts from
tie report, given herewith, that tie
profits from the culture of beets was
| large and that the farmers are we'll
'atisfeI with the returns from their
land.
| 1t is almost an ass i;od fact lat til"
Yakima valley land is etter adapted
10 the raising of su-nr ieets tina" IN:
section referred to ard that not only
will the tonnage per acre be larger but
the percentage of sugar contained in
the beets and the percentage of purity
will he higher than in the section re-
referred to. Therefore some idea of
what may be expected in returns may
be gained from the following letters
showing the experience of the Colo
RADIO farmers, the number of acres
planted, yield per acre, cost of produc
ton and gross and net receipts being
given in most instances:
Warren Blinn says sugar beet indus
per acre for my beets over and above all
expenses; yield of beets twenty-five to
twenty-five tons per acre; test seven
teen per cent and better, sugar; purity,
eighty-fve: planted twenty pounds of
seed to the acre; I consider twelve
pounds of seed sufficient. 1 would ad-
wise early planting, say from the 10th
of April to the middle of May. Did not
water my crop after July 18th; let
beets suffer for a little water before
irrigating, but not enough to hurt them;
my best heets had but two irrigations.
We cultivate three rows at time;
plant rows eighteen inches apart; thin
to five or six inches in row; cost about
$35 per acre to raise and deliver; cult
vators, with all attachments cost $22;
subsoil pillow cost $40. We also use this
pillow for blowing out the beets; six
hours long enough to run water; do not
recommend rolling ground after plant
ing; outside property has increased
forty per cent in value on account of
the sugar factory being located at
ton. Run water about twenty rods for
irrigating One tract of land, eighty
acres, year ago was offered me at $50
per acre. l was trying to make ar
rangements to buy the same, but Mr..
Burrell bought it at $50 per acre. and
will give him $50 for it today. l think
the soil in northern Colorado is fully as
we'll, if not better, adapted to growing
sugar beets, as the soil around Rocky
Ford, and is stronger soil. l would
advise your people by all means to do
| oil in hair m
factory.
"B. F. Wyckoff: Twelve acres; aver
age yield, twenty-one to thirty-ive tons
per acre. My different acreages run
from fifteen to twenty-one per cent SUI
gar, owing to time of delivery. My
early delivery did not turn out as we'll
as my late delivery. The beet crop is
always sure to grow, and we know the
price we are to receive for it. Have
gronw beets for five years. Before fac
tory was established, sold to sheep feed
ers. | raised thirty-ive tons per acre
on ground that has raised beets for two
years. Would make the paintings on
large acreage, ten days or less apart.
Early planting turns out the best One
man can tend fifteen acres, except weed
ing, thinning and harvesting. Run water
not over thirty rods. I will double my
acreage next year if factory will give
me contract. I plowed my land only
eight inches deep. First planting about
April Goth. Cost of crop delivered at
factory, $40 per acre. Frost in spring
will not hurt sugar beets. Cash rent
offered for land next spring to put into
sugar beets, $40 per acre.
c. w. Fenlason: Have small acreage.
Was formerly county superintendent of
schools Put in two acres; average
, yield, % IL tons to the acre; eighteen
per cent sugar; best thing we ever had
strike this valley; mas increased value
Of lands very much. The two acres I
planted yielded me SIP per acre Cost
! OF crop delivered at factory. $40 per
acre for crop of twenty-five tons