20 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



later, after an occasional one had ventured to try the pulp, every week 

 more and more teams went to the pulp spout or to the pulp pile, until 

 towards the end of the campaign the largest crowd of teams was at the 

 pulp end of the factory, and today nearly all of the pulp is gone and the 

 farmer has found out its value as food for stock. 



QUALITY OF THE SUGAR. 



Before closing, I might say a word regarding the quality of our domes- 

 tic beet sugar. It is said the ''Test of the pudding is in eating it," so with 

 beet sugar made in Michigan, its purity is ascertained by its use. Dealers 

 once distributing it to their patrons had occasion to keep it in stock. 



An analysis at the Michigan Agricultural College testifies to its being 

 99 7-10 per cent pure; one made at the pure food department in Chicago 

 99 85-100 per cent pure. This quality of sugar we may commend to the 

 people of Michigan for use freely and abundantly without fear of deleteri- 

 ous effects upon the health of the most delicate. It is an article of food 

 which, if produced in abundance, its consumption will increase until the 

 ratio of consumption will reach ninety pounds per capita in this country. 



In planting one hundred thousand acres of our tillable land to sugar 

 beets we would detract so much from acreage now sown to wheat and 

 other grains and it would lighten our market for grains by so much as 

 the crops therefrom would amount to, thus leaving an increased demand 

 for those who have no market for beets and who for any other reason 

 cannot raise them. 



It is said that more goods have been sold in Bay City the past year than 

 for many years previous; that more than two hundred wagons have been 

 sold in Bay City and vicinity the past six months prior to January, 1899. 

 One merchant has sold more carpets to farmers the j^ast season than 

 for six years previous. 



With these facts before us would it not be well for tne legislature to 

 proceed carefully in measures looking to the repeal of the bounty law? 

 If this prospect can be followed up, if the opportunity now offered our 

 people shall not be lost to view, but fostered and seized upon and im- 

 proved, may we not expect in a few years to see Michigan producing her 

 own sugar ;'possibly selling some to neighboring states, and thus utilizing 

 the money now paid out for this most valuable and necessary commodity, 

 building her home industries, adding yearly to her wealth and her com- 

 merce, and thus advancing her relative standing' in the family of states? 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Alexander: We have been giia^anteed help. Can we depend on it? 



N. B. Bradley: I do not know as to this particular case. Money will hire help 

 at almost any time. There are many people in Detroit and probably in this imme- 

 diate vicinity who will be ready to worli for a fair compensation. 



Geo. G. Peterhans: What is done with the pulp? 



N. B. Bradley: It is hauled away by farmers for feed to cattle and sheep. The 

 more of it they feed, the better the farmers like it. 



L. A. Hunter, Lyons: Would it not be better if the law allowed a certain fixed 

 price for beets regardless of sugar content? 



N. B. Bradley: No, it is better as it is. 



Q. Can't a factory store the beets better than the farmer? 



N. B. Bradley: No, certainly not. It would require sheds covering many acres 



