The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-09-08
Maple River Farmers Club.

pleasant and hospitable home OF Mr..
and Mrs. Ira Snyder and their two
| daughters, Misses Jessie and Alta The
occasion being the August meeting of
the Maple River Farmers Club, the
| Snyder's home was the scene of the
usual large gathering of both members
and invited guests for which this club
is renowned. There is one thing self
evident to the casual observer whose
| opportunity affords them the pleasure
of attending such meeting and this is,
whosoever is fortunate to received an
invitation always avails himself of
the occasion to enjoy profitable and
pleasant event. Thus it was on last
Thursday, every member whose urgent
home duties did not prevent him from
attending united in making the month
ly meeting at the Snyder home one of
unusual distinction.
At the regular hour, Pres Geo. Mar
tin called the meeting to order and the
program for the afternoon was carried
|
its probable results was assigned to
Senator A. B. Cook. The Senator, as is
well known has been most enthusias-
tic advocate of primary reform and
exerted his best influence towards OBJ
tanning such system during the last
session of the legislature The Senator
evidently had not given up hope but
what we would in time get what we
wanted The primary bill which passed
the last session was not complete,
but the best that could be done under
present conditions. There are some
measures in the bill he would like to
have seen changed, and in time doubt
lessly will be, as soon as the people
realize their Importance. The Austria
lian ballot system has several times
been amended to perfect the law. A
| lively discussion followed in which
Clayton Cook strongly opposed the sys-
tenn considering it tool of the politi-
cal machine and not for the benefit of
the majority. Mr.. Cook proclaims by
the system there is no remedy for pres
ent evils and will prove unpopular.
| Others spoke favorable of the system
feeling that while we had not received
| just what we asked for, we would by
standing firm get the bill perfected.
Sugar beets compared with other
crops, was the subject of paper pre-
sented by Mr.. L. B. Dolson, agricultur-
ist of the Owosso Sugar factory.
Mr.. Dolson's experience, both in the
interest of the sugar company and
farmer, enabled him to speak from a
practical standpoint showing he had
not only studied the subject from the
factory but the producers point of view
as well. The sugar beet industry in
this country is in its infancy, like all
new enterprises must find its way grad
ually. In the last few years the indus
try has made remarkable growth and
bids fair of becoming one of the most
important both for the consumer and
producer From financial standpoint
Mr.. Dolson produced some figures
showing relative net profits obtained
from beets and other farm grown crops.
The following computation is taken on
the basis of an average in our country
last season.
Corn 2S.6 bushels per-acre at SIC per
bushel amount to S14.S7.
Oats 32.5 bushels per acre at 33c per
bushel amount to $10.72.
Hay 1.25 tons per acre at 5000 per
ton amounts to $11.36.
Sugar beets S.74 tons per acre at $500
per ton amounts to $49.73.
From the above figures it is evident
that the net profits from an acre of
sugar beets compares very favorably
with other crops regularly grown on
the farm. AS seasons vary to
marked extent in their influence upon
different crops the sugar beets are less
apt to be injured or destroyed by ex-
cessive rains thus putting them ahead
of most other common farm products.
Mr.. Dolson thought the farmer could
well afford to favorably consider the
production of sugar beets as a adjunct
to the regular farm routine system of
crops The beet crop does not draw up
on the fertility of the soil more than
any other crop producing equal yields
when the leaves and tops are allowed
to remain in the field. The beet crop
affords ready return for your labor as
soon as harvested. The crop is not as
materially influenced by the ups and
downs of the market. The farmer is
assured of certain price before the
crop is planted, thus relieving him of
the uncertainty of speculation. Mr..
Dolson's paper was very interesting and
instructive, dealing only with facts.
Mr.. Stanley Parkill, was then intro
duced and, following as he did Mr..
Dolson's talk ON beet raising, said he
had had experience as business man
in raising sugar beets and it was the
one farm crop he knew. all about,
which was greeted with hearty laugh.
Mr.. Parkill stated he had been asked to
talk on Crafts and Grafters' which he