Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1913-09-19
MILLIONS
CROP METHODS
VIII Add 80 Per Centto States
Annual Farm Wealth,
Says Agricultural
Expert.

of the states development. the output
per acre having decreased from 2G.i
bushels to pol bushels.
ut may be interesting to note what
it would mean in dollars and cents to
the farmers of Montana if they We're
able to gather from their acres the
same yields as the farmers Of Germany !
obtain. The official statistics of the
two countries show that if they had
collected in 1910 the same number Of
bushels of wheat. oats. rye. barley and |
potatoes that the German farmers har-
vested. the higher yields would have |
been worth to them at the prices then
| prevailing SIG. ll2.0O0 instead of SIS
| FOG. 1000. the sum which they actually re-
I ceived. This is Il difference of 81 .4OG,-
| 600 or approximately 40 per cent. 1t
! is obvious that in the long run it would
mean Il great advance in the general
| prosperity of Montana if her farmers
could realize year after year an in
| crease of 40 per cent in the returns
| from their labor and their land.
How is it that Germany. with far
fewer natural advantages. with infe-
rior machinery ana a less intelligent
| and less educated farming population.
has been able to outstrip even so virile
and progressive Il state as Montana In
the matter Of improving her agrcul-
tura production!
Several years ago | set out to an
swer this question. For this purpose
l made numerous trips to the impor-
| ~ ,%r;o of
watched the farmers in their fields.
visited the famous model farms and
the principal agricultural institutions
and talked with leading agricultural
scientists, economists and administra-
tors.
'As result of these years of study
and investigation have no hesitation
in saying that there is one principal
cause, and one only. for the improved
productivity of their farm lands. That
cause is the systematic cultivation Of
a hoed root crop an average of one
year in four in rotation with cereals
and other staples find also Il thor
Ough agreement. both among agricul-
tural scientists and among practical
farmers. that the best Of hoed root
crops for this purpose is the sugar
beet. The reason for this Is that
wherever beet sugar factories have
been established the farmer can sell
the sugar content Of his beet crop and
receive direct cash return therefor.
The pulp and tops Of the bcets re-
naming after the sugar is extracted
form the finest Of stock foods, and if
these are fed back on to the land none
of it's fertile elements are taken away
German administrators early grasp
ed the great possibilities of the sugar
beet in increasing the productivity of
their farm lands and have steadily ell
cOuraged the culture of this crop in
all possible ways. They have done
this not only by imposing heavy tariff
duties upon imported sugar, but also
by direct bountes upon exported sug-
ar Of domestic growth. In the past
Germany has expended hundreds Of
millions of dollars in export bOunties
upOn sugar to enable her manufacture
crs to sell abroad at less than the cost
Of production. She has done this sole
ly because Of the benefits of the sugar
beet in increasing general agricultural
production. AS result of the SyS-
Il tematic cncoura cement of this crop
\ Germany is not only the greatest pro
/ Queer of beet sugar in the world, but
II she also has increased the collective
\ acreage yield Of her staple crops an
\ average of so per cent In the past thir
\ ty-three years.
i "American sugar beet farmers are
| now rapidly learning to adopt proper
il methods of rotation. Reports which
\ have collected from 115 farmers scat
\ tered from Ohio to California. wht
/ have kept records of their yields be
Il fore and since taking up sugar beet:
: in rotation with their other crops
show that they have increased thei
!" average yield of corn GIG per cent. o
oats 4S.1 per cent, Of wheat 40.1 pc
cent and of barley 80 per cent, col
=, lective average increase of 44.G pc
, cent.
= 1.-THE great effect of sugar beet GU
= ture. properly conducted. in increasin
the acreage yield of all staple crop
!, grown in rotation with beets Is Q
. especial significance to the people q
:, your state. The great valleys Of Nor
+" tana present exactly the climatic an
. soil conditions favorable to the grow
=" ing of sugar beets. This is demon
strated by the great practical success
: that has followed the Introduction {
sugar beet growing among hundred
Of farmers in your state and by til
successful operation of beet sug;
factory at Billings for the past fe
years. Montana is in a position. Their
| fore. to profit more largely than man
| other members of the Union by appl
| ing the successful experience Of &c
many in utilizing sugar beet culture
advance her general agricultural pr
duction. 1t only remains to exter
L s.ka