The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-01-16
SUGAR BEETS
FOR PROFIT
Panhandle Discuss Wv Profit
That will Bring Wealth
10 Farmers

who Is being called the grandfather
Of the sugar beet IN the Panhandle,
because he has successfully raised
them longer than any other planter
in this section, led in the sugar beet
program yesterday afternoon with
remarks on the Interest in the sugar
beet which Is awakening and which
should be increased and spoke as
follows.
From the Introduction of sugar
boots in France by the first Napo-
leon, the struggle for asccndency Of
beet sugar over cane sugar remained
feeble one, until within the last
twenty years Improved seed in
creasing the sugar content improved
methods OF culture, increasing the
yield, and lastly improved eXtrac-
ton finally in 1905 saw the beet
sugar production Of tho world, for
the first time in history, equal the
molection Of cane sugar, when there
was 7,15l,397 tons credited to beets
and 7,160,27S tons credited to cane,
Needs Special Climate.
The sugar beet is not adapted as
is generally supposed 10 wide field
OF cultivation like corn or oats, The
conditions under which they are
most profitably grown is where the
nights are cool and the sunshine
predominates.
The cane lands OF Illinois are
poor sugar beet lands, the nights are
TOO hot and there is too much cloudy
weather Consequently the increase
in sugar beet growing has been in
the western states where the altitude
assures cool nights and where the
sunshines the longer part of the
time
THE soil and other conditions
make the Panhandle OF Texas an
ideal location for the production Of
sugar beets that will yield large
per cent OF sugar, 1t is this peculiar
adaptabllity OF the Panhandle to
growing sugar beets that has caused
me to become such an ardent adyo-
cate OF this profitable crop.
Magnitude OF the Crop.
The magnitude OF the sugar beet
crop can best be shown by calling
your attention 10 It's increase in Col
orado from 5000 acres bringing
100000 eight years ago to 1907
600 acres bringing the farmers
about S16,O0O,OOO last year Con-
gress began only ten years ago to
foster the beet sugar industry. Since
then over 100000 tons OF sugar
has been produced from American
grown beets, that has returned to the
farmers over $90,000,O00 and over
$40, 000,0 900 TO other American indus
tries. While producing this 2,O00,-
600 tons OF sugar from American
grown beets the revenue collected on
foreign grown sugar has amounted
to $530,000, 5000. Think of the enor-
nous sum that has gone abroad for
sugar that might have been kept at
home had the Panhandle Of Texas
only been fully developed in this
important direction.
Nine Years Success.
For nine successive years have
grown sugar beets that have shown
yield from Is to so tons Analysing
from 1917 to 17lz per cent with
coefflcient purity from rs to Sc, The
average crop has been about 20 tons
showing IA per cent sugar and 81
per cent purity. Such beets are
worth IS per ton or 500 per acre,
deduct the cost OF cultivation which
is sS5. leaves net profit OF s65 per
acre.
The profits at Racy Ford, Col
orado, last year were about $50 per
acre; twelve farmers received from
$1OS.75F per acre TO s12s,69; thir-
teen received over 500; twenty-six
over $50, and thirty-fiye over $40
per acre.
ITO successfully use the same land
for growing beets, 1t is necessary
to rotate the crops, fFor this pur-
pose wheat and alfalfa are especially
well adapted and in this rotation OF
crops, livestock become an import
ant factor. dairy fattening lambs
and breedtngs hogs, The beet pulp
sold at 40 cents per ton has proven
one OF the most profitable ingredi-
ents to a balanced ration that can
be had. and as result livestock in
terests have become more important
in all localities where sugar beet
plants have been established
Grow Bects Here.
What is now asked of the Pan
h.na,. e.,,,,n,. 90 ~ v.1an. fau, ncras