FARMER^S INSTITUTES. 15 



From the standpoint of the farmer, the prospects of the beet industry 

 divide themselves into two classes^, pleasing and displeasing. 



ADVANTAGES OF SUGAR BEET CULTURE. 



Among the former may be mentioned the strong probability that Mich- 

 igan will be the center of the beet sugar industry in the United States. 

 The so-called sugar beet zone follows a very irregular line drawn across 

 the entire continent where the mean temperature from June to September 

 is from G9 to 71 degrees. A great proportion of this vast territory is de- 

 barred, by reason of insufficient or irregular rainfall, impure water, 

 scorching winds or alkali soils, from at present profitably raising sugar 

 beets. The eyes of experts are directed toward Michigan and central 

 New York, with an annual rainfall of from 30 to 40 inches, fertile soils, 

 moist growing springs, seasonable showers, and dry sunshiny autumns, 

 as localities especially suited to this industry. 



Its establishment means the welcome addition of another and a profit- 

 able crop to our present rotation. The grower is assured in advance of 

 a fixed price for his product, and while the expense of raising is rela- 

 tively large, he may figure against it the value of his own labor and still 

 leave a handsome profit. The apparent profit in the tabulated statement 

 given above, while large, is not unusual. 



In this land of insect and fungous pests, the beet has almost entirely 

 escaped their ravages, while its successful cultivation, accompanied by 

 sub-soiling as it must largely be, will have the salutary effect of requiring 

 the most thorough and intensive farming. Pulverization of the soil, 

 breaking up of ''hard pans" and ''plow pans," and the frequent turning 

 under of clover and other fertilizers, will benefit not only the beet, but all 

 following crops, adding to and making available the plant-foods and 

 rendering less disastrous our drouths by increasing the water-holding 

 capacity and power of capillary attraction from beneath. 



In addition, a great impetus will doubtless be given to stock raising, 

 feeding, and dairying in Michigan. Western cattle men report better re- 

 sults with pulp from the beet factories and hay, than with hay accom- 

 panied by a grain ration. From 30 to 50 pounds are consumed by each 

 animal daily (with free access much more), and the fattening period is 

 said to be shortened from four to six weeks. In the experience of the 

 speaker nothing can exceed the avidity with which beets, both the fresh 

 tops and the roots, are eaten by cattle, sheep and hogs. Doubtless it 

 would pay richly to grow high grade beets for this purpose only. While 

 very palatable to all, horses possibly excepted, being rich in the carbo- 

 hydrates they are also very fattening. They contain from two to three 

 times the actual nutriment found in turnips and bagas. In protein (blood 

 and muscle producing material), pound for pound, they are equal to good 

 unhusked cornf odder; in the carbohydrates, or fat forming constituents, 

 they are nearly equal to it, far exceeding in both respects turnips, man- 

 gel wurzels and rutabagas. The nutritive ratio accepted as proper for 

 milch cows is 1 to 0.9; that of sugar beets is wider, 1 to 9.6, showing again 

 their tendency to produce fat. 



