New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 593 



It should be borne in mind that the very best of culture was 

 given throughout the season and no expense spared in either 

 hand or team labor, and that a liberal allowance has been made 

 in all cases wherever estimates were necessary. Some mistakes 

 were also made which were costly, and which can be avoided in 

 the future. On the whole, therefore, it is probable that these 

 figures err on the side of too great cost, and that with the 

 experience gained in this season's work, we can cheapen the cost 

 of growing an acre of beets quite materially. 



In the table below we give the cost of growing one acre of 

 sugar beets, based on hand labor at |1.25 per day for hoeing and 

 thinning, and team at |3.50 per day; and on hand labor at |0.75 

 and team at |3.00: 



Cost Per Acre of Growing Sugar Beets. 



Expensive 

 labor. 



Fitting ground $7 00 



Sowing fertilizer 1 12 



Sowing seed 1 "^ 



Hoeing, thinning and weeding 23 43 



Harvesting 24 25 



Horse cultivation 2 00 



Hand cultivation 3 75 



Seed 3 00 



Fertilizer 10 00 



Total Jj;75 80' 



Doubtless these figures will be criticised on the ground that 

 they are too high, but it is probable that, if careful accounts were 

 kept by one hundred farmers of the cost of everything connected 

 with the growing and delivery to the factory of one acre of 

 properly grown sugar beets, the average would not fall below 

 $50.00, with the present methods and machinery at the command 

 of the grower. 



The yield per acre, as harvested, was 32,548 lbs., or approxi- 

 mately 16^ tons. 



In order to determine the actual yield of perfectly clean beets, 

 topped as they would be when sent to the factory, a lot weighing 



38 



