The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-04-30

other strange fruits which are in n
fair way to become contestants for
American honors are the Loquat from
China and the Carrisa from southern
Africa. The latter fruit is about ready
to come on the market from American
orchards in California. 1t is a bril-
liant red in color about the size of a
plum, but without the large seed of
the plum. Dozens of other rare trans
planted luXuries are growing in odd
corners of the country waiting the
time when they may successfully tickle
the national palate.
Among the better known plant
aliens Of recognized d~esirability which
have i~mmigrated from distant shores
and have become useful citizens are
figs, dates, rice, sugar beets, camphor,
tea and edible bamboo Perhaps the most
important even though it be of pIebian
origin, one which has literally built
cities and provided a livelihood for
thousands Of people, produced an in
dustry capitalized at more than $780,
100000, and benefited all kinds of ag-
riculture intellectually, is the sugar
beet. At first confined to California it
has spread over some sixteen states
and is annually grown on 429,O14
acres with a direct return to the farm
'ers of $21, 000, 900. The direct and in
direct value of this immigrant has Sc
cured for it constant fostering care
from the department of agriculture
until at present the sugar beet may
well claim citizenship upon the single
item of supplying Is per cent of the
total amount of sugar consumed in
this country. That, however, is but a
beginning, according to the department
Of agricultures experts, since it IS
stated in an official report recently
published that If but one acre in fifty
of the cream of the best growing area
were planted to beets once every four
wears, it would mean the production Of
all the sugar we now purchase from
foreign countries and would bring the
farmers direct money returns amount
ing to $125, O0O,0 0O a year. DR.. Harvey
w. Wiley and Charles F. Saylor, who
were instrumental in establishing the
sugar beet here point to it as being
one of the most important factors in
the future development of the pro-
d~uctiveness of American soil, because
of it's value in crop rotation and the
intensive methods of farming which it
brings about wherever it is grown.
JUS at present the bureau of plant in
dustry has sufficiently under way TO
predict a successful outcome an ex-
pertinent to produce a race of what
are termed single-germ beet balls. The
seed, or beat balls, now used in SOW
ing the beet crop contain from one to
six germs each capable Of producing
a plant. 1t is necessary in planting
the sugar beet to use six Of these beer
balls to ensure the proper stand of
crops and If each one grows the re-
suit is thirty six plants, thirty-fva of
which must be :"thinned" or pulled mn.
1t is expected that in six to eight years
there will be available the single germ
beet ball and planting six of these to-
gether will mean no more than six
plants If all grow. The saving which
this will bring about is estimated at
$500 per acre. The estimation In which
the beet is held by the farmers was
shown not long ago when they pro-
tested before q congressional commit
tee against the destruction Of the
sugar beet industry through the elimi-
nation of the tariff on sugar. sayins
that not only would they lose an enor-
nous amount Of money directly bur
much more indirectly because Of the
increased yields of oats, rye, wheat
corn and potatoes due to rotation with
the sugar beet.
"A promising immigrant from japan
Is the oriental persimmon, one Of the
chief staples Of Japan where it OUT
ranks the orange in popularity and
quantity Of production. 1t grows to q
size Of from four to five inches in di-
ameter and can be sliced like a peach
or frozen after it is thoroughly ripe