The Question Box. 327 



What success have our beet sugar factories had in increasing their out- 

 put and numbers? 



Mr. Cook. — Mr. Rogers of the Binghamton beet-sugar factory, 

 said they were greatly encouraged. Their crop last year was 

 30,000 tons, against 20,000 tons the year before, while next year's 

 tonnage will be still larger. Doubtless there will be one more 

 factory built in the State this year, which will be at Lyons, mak- 

 ing three factories in the State. The growing of sugar beets adds 

 another money crop for the farmer, and I think it will grow and 

 crystallize in a short time so that we will know what we are 

 doing. 



Mr. Harmon. — We grow cabbage here, which is a better crop 



than sugar beets ever will be with us. 



Is the Unadilla Valley suitable for growing sugar beets? 



Mr. Moore. — They will grow here and give a good per cent, of 

 sugar, if the season is favorable. I sowed some seed last spring 

 but it did not grow; the drouth was the cause of failure. 



Whi>h is the best money crop, sugar beets or potatoes? 



A Farmer. — Sugar beets; but it is more work to grow them 

 unless one has a weeder. We got |50 last season off an acre and 

 a half. 



Two or three farmers said that, all things considered, there was 

 more money in potatoes at 25 cents a bushel than in beets. 



Another farmer said he got |50 last season off an acre. The 

 yield was 10 tons; but there was a majority of two to one in favor 

 of the potatoes at South New Berlin. 



Mr. Cook. — I think, as a rule, we have not been educated up to 

 the point of successful sugar-beet growing; I also believe that 

 we are to grow more of them, but that the work will be largely 

 done by foreigners; and I hope the Legislature will keep up the 

 bounty appropriation just as long as its conscience will permit. 

 Let us raise all we can and save as much of the money as we can 

 which we are yearly sending abroad to purchase this crystalized 

 sunlight. 



What is the expense per acre of growing sugar l)eets? 



Mr. Cook. — Have any of you here grown them? 

 O. E. Wolcott of Corning, — I grew 20 tons of beets per 

 acre at a cost of |30 per acre. I used fourteen pounds of seed. 



