The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-08-12
Excellent Prospects for Large Crop OF
Sugar Beets.
From the Michigan Sugar Beet.

Sugar Beets.
From the Michigan Sugar Beet.
Lansing, Mich. II have just finished
a drive through Ingham county, look
ing at crop prospects. 1t is now late
enough in the season to give . conser-
vative idea of the beet crop, and after
viewing over 400 fields during the past
week, the writer believes that the crop
will be above the average. Recent
rains have aided the growth of the
plants to notable degree, and from
now until harvest time, the fields will
develop rapidly in tonnage. One Of the
noticeable features of beet growing in
this section is the universal small acre
age. Almost every farmer has few
acres OF beets, and they are well taken
care of. The farmers hereabouts have
taken to beet growing as regular diet,
not considering it side issue, but
permanent crop, in which they can ro-
tate and build up their land. Another
important matter in successful farming
is being given special attention, that of
barnyard manure and its proper use.
The farmers here seem to be progressive,
and their farms show it,. Fine farm
houses and barns, fences well kept, and
stock grazing in green pastures, with
plenty of water. In company with
Agriculturalist Dove, of the Lansing
company we drove out to the Agricul-.
tural College. This is the historic
stamping ground where many of the
states most successful men received
their first lesson in agriculture. This
college stands well at the head of insti-
tutions of its kind in this country. Prof.
Smith is carrying on several interesting
experiments in beet culture. The re-
suits of last years experiments may be
found in special bulletin, No. 215, just
issued, and which will be sent on appli-
cation. The college grounds are we'll
kept, being beautiful and spacious. A
look at the stock-cattle, sheep and hogs
leads us to believe that they are plen-
tifully cared for. Prof Smith has done
much for the agriculture of the state,
and since the advent of the culture of
sugar beets has been exerting himself
for the advancement of this new indus
try. Mr.. Smith will read an interesting
paper at the meeting of the Michigan
agriculturalists, to be held at St Louis.
Mich, the latter part of August. q Ne'er
We turned off into the Owosso Sugar
Co. 8 section and found Agriculturalist
Doleson knee deep in fine beet field at
! Gaines, Genesee county. The fields are
in the best possible condition, free from
weeds, and under fine state of culti-
walton. For the most part, the crop
has been laid by" with exceptionwof
one or more times through with the cul-
tivators. No trouble has been exper-
fenced in securing sufficient help, for
the reason that common sense has been
used in keeping the acreage down to a
point where farmer with his ordinary
help can handle the crop. 1t looks to
the writer as though the successful beet
growing era was upon US. We have
found very few farmers that are dis
satisfied with the crop. The Owosso
company have fine, large acreage, and
the outlook for a good campaign is prom
ising. No company in Michigan is
more deserving the good will of the
farmers than the Owosso Sugar Co.
They stand for business first, last and
all the time, and have one of the most
modern, as well as one of the largest
sugar refineries in America. The citi-
zens of Owosso should boost every inch
of the way for the success of this insti-
tuition that has come to stay with them,
and which in time will be the greatest
money distributing agency in Shiawas-
see county. The company has large
acreage in the vicinity of Dundee and
Monroe, and like the crop in the vicin.
ity of Owosso, looks above the average.
Early beets are excellent; late beets are
coming fast.
The writer has seen many beet fields
in Central Michigan during the past
week. 1t is encouraging to note that
the farmers are taking to the crop as a
permanent, profit-growing proposition.
They are learning more of the success.
full methods employed in securing a
maximum tonnage. They are learning
that it pays to till the soil. To plow
and prepare so far as possible in the
fall. To feed the pulp, to rotate thei,
crops, to clean up their land, and bring
it up to higher state of fertility than
ever before known. All this is possible,
and the culture of sugar beets and the
refining of sugar in Michigan, is the
foundation of it all. 8. o. Burgdorf.