Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-02-24

Although we COiilSoo VIC hoNS INV
had the opportunity or the means to
look into the matter closely enough to
warrant us in speaking with anything
like authority on the subject, we be-
lieve that If the matter could only be
managed, there is a splendid opportu-
nifty for development in this country
through the cultivation and manufac-
ture Of sugar beets. That sugar beets
can be produced in this country in as
large quantity to the acre and in as
excellent quality as anywhere, there Is
absolutely no doubt. The difficulties
lie in the establishment Of the indus
try-in getting together the executive,
managing and financial ability to pro-
mote the capitalization, erection and
operation Of big sugar mill, and at
the same time induce the farmers to
produce the raw material necessary to
it's successful conduct. AS to whether
one Of the difficulties in the way would
be a long, throat cutting struggle with
entrenched monopoly, we are not sure,
This Is probable. But even without
having to look to this trouble, the task
of securing cooperation between the
mill builders on the one hand and the
producers of raw material on the 9TH
er, and getting these two absolutely
essential components Of success to-
operate in harmony, will be work
enough of itself. The idea compre-
hends the difficulties involved In the
establishment of a creamery, except
upon a somewhat more complicated
scale. There was no need for a cream
cry because the farmers did not have
the COWS with which to produce
enough milk to keep it in operation,
and there was no need to buy and feed
more cows because there was no mar
ket for the product Of those already
owned and milking. The two things
had to be worked together-the estab-
lishment of the creamery plant on the
one hand and the encouragement Of
the procuring and owning of more
COWS on the other. 1t would be diff
cult to get men to subscribe to the
stock of a sugar mill in a country
where no beets were being produced,
and 1t would be difficult to get farmers
to raise beets where there was
no market. But still the proposition is
not impossible. Beets-sugar beets-
can be raised here in large quantities.
People who have tried the experiment
find that there is no trouble on that
score. They can be raised with as lit
tie labor, care or attention as turnips
and the yield is much larger. They
make valuable feed for all kinds OF
live stock, and their feed value Is suffi-
cient to warrant their production in
large quantities. If people would go in
for raising sugar beets for few years
until they learned their domestic
value, there would be more probability
of a chance to realize on their COM
mercial value. There would be more
inducement to capital to take notice
and this country might one day become
a sugar producer. A by-product of the
sugar mills is beet pulp, which Is a
very valuable COW feed-which is sold
for that purpose almost as extensively
as is cotton seed meal. much more ex-
tensively than is cotton seed hulls, and
this is another matter to be consid-
cred in connection with the whole idea.
We would be glad if some Of our York
county farmers-more of them-would
begin experiments with the sugar beet.
The result within the next few years
might prove to be something worth
while.