The Cordova daily times., 1920-05-12
SUGAR BEET
 INDUSTRY IS
 GIVEN BOOST

1dIllluS try is bidding for place in the de- velopment of the agricultural future of the Panama valley. The growing of sugar beets, which to date has been carried on only in an experimental stage, promises to take it's place as one of the ranking branches of the farm ing industry, and may prove the CO., Ordinating factor necessary on accOunt of the different qualities of the soils and their various growing qualities, caused by geographical location.
 A sample of molasses refined from sugar beets grown on the Rickert farm in appearance and taste proved so nearly akin to the product of the Outside refneries that, like the first flour to be milled from Fairbanks grown wheat, the possible future of the industry was immediately brought to mind.
 The soil of the bottom land, which is a loose, friable loam, is better adapt ed to the growth of beets than the hill slopes, where the soil packs tightly about the large tap roots after each rainfall. It has been learned in the past few seasons of experimental tion in this locality that the valley land will produce very good yield is practically sure of maturity. Sun shine is the great factor in maturing the beet, and also in determining the sugar content. Tn this phase the In- terior has all the advantage, as dur ing the summer days of nearly contin- uous sunshine the home product is given nearly double the advantage over the crops grown in the beet belts of the States.
 The sugar content of the beets grown in the Panama valley has not yet been determined, but in test of beets grown in the Matanuska valley the content was shown to have ranked above 16 per cent. The percentage of sugar present in all beets so far test ed by the department of agriculture has run from 12 to 20 per cent, with the average under IA per cent. Since the Matanuska product is well above the general average, it is believed by Fairbanks farmers that test of the beets grown there will make an eX- ceedingly creditable showing
 The pulp of the sugar beet, after the saccharine juices have been ex- tracted, is an ideal food for cattle, and as, according to Superintendent Snodgrass of the local experiment sta tion, the Interior is certain to become a cattle country, the ideal cycle is established. Beets and cattle on the lowlands-grain and potatoes on the hill slopes. The pulp will feed the cattle, the cattle will fertilize the soil for future bumper beet crops, and the wheat will wave on the hillsides. In the meantime the lowly spud is tiding the pioneer farmer over until the dream can become a reality.
 Sugar is a big item in the readjust- ment of the postwar situation. The demand exceeds the supply, and the price has risen to stimulate produc- tion. Each year the per capita of con- sumption of sugar increases, especial 1y since candies, soft drinks and pas tries are increasing in public favor. 1 The best authorities predict that sugar in the States will continue to rise in price, and as it is retailing at 20 cents per pound in Fairbanks at the present time, it is practically certain that the new shipment will sell at a price not under 25 cents for the next year. The per capita consumption throughout the United States for the past year was 85 pounds.
 It can readily be seen that the sugar industry has a big future, regardless of the fact that the Tanana valley is 8 considerable distance removed from the chief source of demand, after the local demand has been cared for-but in that respect not at much greater disadvantage than the Hawaiian islands, where sugar has been exported to the States for many years.
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