The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-04-09
THURSDAY, APRIL g, 1908
THE SUGAR BEET EXPERIMENTS
OVER TEXAS.

OVER TEXAS.
The News recently had good dea
TO say In regard to experiments n
.lhis state looking to the growing Of
sugar beets. II has called attention
10 the fact that the Frisco Railwa,
has been distributing gratis sugar
beet seed along some parts OF its ter.
tory in Texas In order to induce the
farmers in those sections to see what
success they could obtain In growing
this very profitable crop, Reference
was also made to the fact that few
small experiments had been made in
the Panhandle country and with ap-
parently satisfactory results--at
least as TO the size OF the beets. SO
far as The News has information
no thorough analyses have been
made OF the vegetables raised. Since
the publication OF the editorials on
this subject interesting information
pertaining to 1t has been received,
and this information Is OF a very en-
couraging nature, Prof. w C. We'll
born, vice director OF theTexas Igx.
perimental Station. was consulted
about the possibilities OF beet grow
Ing in Texas. He answered very con-
Eeryatlyely. but encouraglngly in et-
iect as follows;
A few years ago / had occasion to
ltudy the sugar beet question rather
thoroughly. II was well proven
many years ago by the department OF
Agriculture that the sugar beet is
not success in any climate suitable
Tor cotton, and Is not successful in
much Of the best corn belt country
IN account OF the climate being too
warm. The Department OF Agrl-
;ulture mapped the sections with
iultable elevation, temperature, etc,
70 produce sugar beets. The sugar
beet belt extends over part OF New
Fork, onthrough part OF Michigan,
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska.
Kansas, Colorado, and comes on
Town and takes in about half OF the
Western part OF the Panhandle OF
Texas. | should say that the PAN
handle lands west OF 1O1 and having
an elevation OF 5000 feet or over will
have suitable climate for growing
sugar beets: that Is, suitable temper
Rture TO make sweet beets.
I should be inclined to doubt n Il
would be advisable TO take the
chances on rainfall for a drop re-
Quiring so much labor and expense as
the sugar beet. But II has such a
high market value per acre that
where irrigation could be provided
Il may become a great crop for part
OF the Panhandle. One OF the worst
drawbacks as see It now is that
there are not enough people In that
section to handle a beet crop for a
big factory. II requires an Inn
mense amount OF labor at certain
time to thin and cultivate 5000 or
5000 acres OF beets. Then II re-
auires an emmense amount OF labor
It another time TO pull, top and trans
sort these beets to the factory.
Unless the community growing the
peets has a good large population,
primarily engaged in other pursuits,
who can be drawn on to handle the
seets, 1 fear venture OF this kind
would not be advisable.
I am sure that can promise you
hat the Station will undertake to
nave samples OF beets that may be
srown analysed, so that the people
nay become better informed as to
lust the sections or Texas that may
become profitable bcet-growins sec
ions.
Il would be Well for those inter-
ssted to ask for bulletins from Michi-
gan. Wisconsin, Colorado and Cali
,ornia bearing on the subject OF sugar
beets These will give very com
9late information