The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-03-09

In conducting the business of the
farm, the farmer should select the crops
to be raised from a standpoint of net
results.
Upon this basis the sugar beef easily
takes its place among the most profit
able of farm crops.
For systematic consideration of the
proposition let us look at the important
features which enter into the merits
and dement's of every crop, as follows:
lst The money value OF the crop
itself.
2nd. The effect of the crop on the
fertility OF the soil.
Bird. The effect of the crop on the
killing out or prevention of noXious
weeds.
4th. Market advantages.
9TH. Safety of raising IN this elm
ate.
Upon the first feature, THE money
value Of the crop itself" it is safe to
say it will compare favorably with any
crop for which the market is unlimited.
The actual value depends much upon
the conditions that produce the crop
Good soil good cultivation, and favor.
able weather combine to give large re-
suits and large net gains, and even with
unfavorable weather, experience teach
es that the combination of good soil
and good cultivation produces gOo1 re-
turns.
Ga fair soil with ordinarily good cul-
tivation the crop should produce so. 90
worth Of beets per acre, and this can
be increased, by the use of the best
soils and high cultivation, to values
ranging all the way up to 800 90 and
$50 90 per acre. The last season, in
the district of upper Michigan and
Northern Wisconsin, has been most
unfavurable, it having been month
shorter between seed time and harvest
than in the season of 1903, Caused by
the cold, wet spring. 1904 was further
unfavorabe in the fact that there was
unusual rainfall during the month OF
September it being almost continual,
and accompanied by cold weather, SO
tina. the beets practically stood still in
the period that should have shown
their best development in both growth
aud quality.
The heavy rains left the soil so thor
oughly wet that the beets did not
thereafter ripen well, and harvest time
came on finding them still green and
lacking in size and sweetness, com.
pared to what good September would
have produced.
Such season is not experienced here
often, and we do not recall single
previous one as bad.
Notwithstanding these adverse con
ditione, in 1904 a large number of grow
ers for the Menominee, Mich, Factory
realised from the sale of their beete
prices ranging from 5000 to $1,000
~ + acre This alone speaks volumns
for the industry, but this one does
lot epreaent the full value Of the crop
The tops have great feeding value
esp' cially for dairy COWS, as they in
or, ase the flow of milk in "a very large
degree, and lend sweetness to its quail
iiy, and this feed comes in at : scasOr
when pastures become dry and short
Good farmers place the value OF the
tops at s. 90 to Sl5 90 per acre, accord
ing To quantity.
Another added value to the crop is
found in the feeding value Of the pulp
1t is now recognized that this value
is of great Importance and experiments
have placed it from 81 90 to $500 pei
ton. Thus far it is claimed its greatest
value is found in feeding it TO dairy
cows, and in the iatening Of sheep
1t is estimated the pulp product is
equal to one half the beet tonnage 81
that with beets ranging from II
w ~ bOll5 pel hCIc butTc WOulG
be from to 10 tons Of pulp, and this al
from 81 90 TO 500 per ton, according
to the purpose, should be worth for
| feed from 800 up per acre.
These are all material values and
should not escape the consideration oil
the farmer. la figuring the total value
of the crop, the sugar value of the beets
the tops and the pulp must all b,
included The expense OF raising
may be said to vary from S25. 90 t,
S35 90 per acre according to the season
size of crop, and price Of labor, and il
| leaves fine net result. No doub
this expense will be reduced a. W,
come 10 know more ABOUT The best
methods OF cultivating and handling
the crop.
From The Sugar Beet News and \,