Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-04-16
The Sugar Beet In Viz uIuIa.

N%hNy oAA0 OOhlhWGol VIZ
ginia, to determine whether this locality
Is adapted to the successful culture of
beets for the manufacture of sugar.
The sugar beet industry of the North
ern and Western States has in recent
years risen to such eminence, that in
many of these states it represents one
of the largest money crops produced.
Michigan, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah
and California have taken the lead in
the manufacture of sugar, and in many
of these states it has been the principal
factor in enabling the farmers to raise
from position of bare subsistence to
one OF continued prosperity and indie
pendence.
American imports to-day about two
thirds of its total sugar consumption
and any movement that contributes
towards larger production on the part
of our American farmer, and a conse-
quent retention of a large amount Of
money annually paid to foreign coun-
tries for sugar imported, cannot help
but result in in increasing prosperity to
our American agriculturists.
Mr.. F. H. LaBaume, Agricultural and
Industrial Agent of the Norfolk &
Western Railway, in conjunction with
some prominent Colorado manufacturers
of beet sugar, is inaugurating cam
paign for the thorough and conclusive
testing of sugar beet culture through
out the Shenandoah Valley and South
west Virginia in the territory tributary
to the Norfolk & Western Railway lines.
To this end, Mr.. LaBaume has Just Sc
cured some fifteen or twenty bushels of
highest grade imported German Sugar
Beet seed. He has also been furnished
by the Colorado manufacturers with
complete supply of pamphlets, instruct
ing the farmer in simple and concise
way how to plant, cultivate and harvest
these beets. Through his representa-
tive, Mr.. E. A. Schubert, who is ac-
lively engaged in field work for the de-
partment, Mr.. LaBaume has arranged
to distribute among representative
farmers, in the localities which, on ac-
count of altitude, soil and climatic con-
ditions offer the best prospects, suffi-
cient seed to plant one-eighth of an
acre. The several sections selected by
the Colorado Sugar Beet experts, who
recently took trip over the line with
Mr.. LaBaume, are enumerated below,
and in each of the sections surrounding
the towns enumerated, it is desired to
secure four or five patches, planted by
as many farmers, who will agree to cul-
tivate and harvest same in accordance
with directions constantly furnished
them both by the bulletin and by the in
structor. who will visit them frequently
throughout the year.
Abingdon, Glade Springs, Chilhowie,
Seven Mile Ford, Marion, Rural Re-
treat, Wytheville, Max Meadows, Pu-
laski, Dublin, Melborn, Radford, Christ
iansburg. Grayson, Roanoke, Troutville,
Buena Vista, Midvale, Stuart's Draft,
Grottoes, Cleveland, Honaker, Rich
lands and Tazewell.
There will be no loss whatever to any
of the farmers. On the contrary, these
heets offer one Of the very best stock
and cattle foods that it is possible to
grow, and moreover the return is usu-
ally large per acre. The parties inter-
ested in making this test have every
reason to believe that the sections Sc
lected are we'll adapted to beet culture,
insuring a sufficiently high sugar con-
tent to make it attractive from COM
mercial crop stand point. Some minor
tests were made last year with view
of ascertaining whether this sugar con-
tent could be obtained, ard from beets
planted in the vicinity of Rural Retreat
and WytheVille, under unfavorahle cir
cumstances, sugar content was OBJ
tanned. under analysis, that compared
most favorably with the best result OBJ
tanned In Western beet growing sec
tions.
Farmers throughout the West have
frequently netted from $1,000 to $50. 90
per acre, after paying all expenses of
planting, cultivation and harvesting and
returps OF double this amount under ex-
ceptionally favorable conditions are not
of unusual occurrence, and Furthermore,
in the sections mentioned, labor is rarely
obtained for less than $1.00 to 81. so per
day.
The successful production of this crop
in Virginia would mean hundreds of
thousands Of dollars paid out annually
to our farmers. 1t would mean further
more the employment of large body OF
laborers at better wages than they have
been accustomed to, and these factors
together would work to the greater ma
terial social and industrial advancement
of our state.
Mr.. Schubert will visit Tazewell in
the course of the next week or ten days,
preparatory to taking up the question
with our people and in the meantime, il
is very much desired that any farmer
living near the city, who has piece not