Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-01-12

companies were in favor of basing
price per ton plus a regulated amount
IN addition as premium for each per
cent OF sugar over the set minimum.
1t was the idea that bcets should be
paid for the same as other products
| OF the soil, on quality as well as guam
tity. Naturally where there is di-
versity OF opinions. test must be
made, and this year the division OF
farmers taking the different style con-
| tracts was about even. The growers
taking advantage of the scale con-
| tract with the premium averaged in
most instances better than SO ton,
while the flat rate this year was at
the rate OF S5 so ton, a figure quite
satisfactory to the growers. Doubt
be the favored one by all beet grow
ers next year, as there are many in
| stances of growers receiving as high
as 81 and even better ton for their
crop under the scale.
The beet sugar industry in the val
ley is decidedly upon the improve
trIent caused probably by. a very good
jteeling existing between the farmers
| and the sugar producers. feeling
| that is necessary, and which makes it
possible for the factory arrangements
and the growers to work out mutually
the many problems that confront the
industry. As one grower has put il.
Sugar beet growing is not all fun.
and there is lot to be learned as
yet. Which is undoubtedly true.
and the farmers OF the valley are aid
ing in the research work, which will
e 4
the returns of more sugar from the
same amount of land.
AT different sections of the valley
there are agricultural clubs, the most
prosperous OF which is probably the
Otcro Agricultural club composed OF
Otero county farmers with headquar-
ters at Rocky Ford. This club holds
bi-monthly meetings and discussions
affecting every phase of their business
arc held. Sugar beet problems,
experiences and all that goes to
furthering OF this industry is ration
ally discussed, and where problems
are encountered every farmer makes
it point to do what is possible to
levise a way to overcome the point in
question. All this cannot help but
have its uplifting influence upon the
industry OF producing sugar.
Probably no agricultural industry
II the world represents the rapid
strides OF beet sugar produc ton in
the field, and it is doubtful if any pre-
vious year has witnessed the many
improvements made in handling the
crop of bects and protecting them.
There is no gainsaying that sugar
beets are not the easiest crop in the
world to handle. They are not nee
essarily the hardest crop. but require
the skill and attention of any inten-
sively farmed crop. Therefore any
hing that will tend to make the beet
| growing easier, and more prolific is
eagerly sought after by the growers
and sugar companies alike. The ag-
-icultural departments of the COM
panies are continually investigating
and experimenting and the past sea-
son has brought about many things
that have gone to account for the
healthy growth OF the industry and
The better financial returns.
The use OF power plows has had its
sffect this year. The American Beet
Sugar company operates FIVE gasoline
Dacities for deep plowing, and when
blowing. run night and day. The
Holly Sugar company also runs plows
IF this nature, and as cheaper plow-
ing coupled with deeper plowing
means cheaper and more beets for the
grower it has helped. naturally. In
one section OF the valley, moths got
rather bad, and the agricultural de-
partment OF the sugar company was
worried. Yankee ingenuity came to
he front with several large gas lamps
set over tubs OF kerosene. and when
lighted at night attracted moths to
the number OF millions and finally
cleaned up the threatened area OF
these pests. Another discovery OF
the season that assisted in the good
work. and which will probably be as
useful to the beet field as the smudge
pot to the orchardist.
Insects that have bothered the crop
are being watched so successfully
that each season ways and means OF
overcoming their ravages are discov-
cred. and last year great strides were
made towards this Improvement.
The acreage next year promises to
be composed of smaller tracts farm
ed by more growers, an ideal sugar
beet production arrangement. Ten
growers with ten acres each will
make more sugar than one with one