The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-09-18
There's Drama in Historical Development of Livestock,
Sugar Beets, Flax, New Agricultural Year Book Reveal

To sugar beets, livestock and most
other leading products of Montana
farms and ranches, the 1885 year book
of he department Of agriculture, just
issued, devotes many Illuminating
pages.
the Montana experiment station, and
the breeding Of commercial dairy herds
and other work at the Bozeman State
college.
Last years planting of sugar beets
In the state, after a steady increase
over several years, amounted to 1885,
600 acres, and yielded $4,000 short
tons.
THE income Of producers generally
has increased, and in those localities
where the 1884 drouth drastically re-
under the sugar beet program were Of
Importance in maintaining farmers
income" Secretary Wallace writes.
These results have been achieved
without materially increasing the cost
to consumers. Returns to laborers in
rectly through wage determinations
and in other sugar producing areas
provisions protecting laborers have
been included in production-adjust-
ment contracts"
The story of the rise of sugar pro-
auction to meet an ever increasing de-
mand is a romance of agriculture and
chemistry" the book sets forth. TO
day sugar is q part of the diet of
ton is associated with the standard
of living Of a nation"
An interesting treatise is given on
the development of the sugar beet.
While sugar cane was recognized as a
our Of sweets by primitive peoples,
the sugar beet is comparatively young.
The development of the sugar beet
dates back not more than $50 years.
The winning of this sugar plant from
ly as feed for animals was done by
known historical figures who left some
written record Of their accomplish
ments. It is a story of mans success.
Sugar manufacturing is one of the
most efficient modern industries and
unquestionably the most efficient agri-
cultural industry, the book claims.
Only a few generations ago, it re-
lateS, when subsistence farming in the
United States was more than a name,
our forefathers made rare periodical
sugar from the West Indies was n of
the few purchases for which a cash
outlay was required. The frontierSman
spent a considerable proportion Of his
limited income for this luxury, which
was used for preserving fruits and to
supplement the long sweeting"-the
syrups Of maple or sorgo produced by
himself or his neighbors. His bread
and meat, dairy products, vegetables
and fruits, even his homespun cloth
ing, soap, candles, and often shoes,
were products of his " industry and
that of his family.
For the majority of American fam
lilies, sugar remained a large item in
the budget down to very recent times.
Today, even with the manifold in
crease in per capita consumption, the
cost is relatively insignificant. And
while sugar has become a prime ne
cessity and is recognized in wartime,
furnishing about 13 percent of the to-
tai energy obtained from food, mod
ern methods of refining and handling
have made it a standard for purity
among foods. In quality, the product
is equaled by few others, n ! n guam
tity of raw material utilized the sugar
industry is comparable to the heavy
industries.
The purity and cheapness of sugar
is the result of concentration on prob
lens of production and manufacture
by hundreds Of technologists, biologists.
chemists, producers n handlers IN
the industry. To consolidate the gains
made and provide Sterilization and
adequate supplies at reasonable prices,
with due regard for a decent living for
the sugar farmer, are problems that
continue to challenge the ingenuity
and resources of technOlogiStS. The
most important part Of the task at the
present time devolves upon the plant
breeder. the book holds.