232 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



farmers than anything during the whole institute, judging by the number of ques- 

 tions aslved Mr. Smith. ^ 



rrofessor Smith said he had visited California, Nebraska, and all the other states 

 where sugar beets were being grown and declared that Michigan's prospects for 

 leading the industry are better than any otlier state. (Applause.) What is neces- 

 sary for a good sugar beet locality is good blacli loam soil and plenty of rainfall. 

 Michigan has both. (Applause.) Clay soil is not adapted to the industry, as it 

 causes the beets to grow in a sprangly form and is very difficult to clean from 'the 

 roots. 



Muck soil grows too large beets, and is not generally used for such. He thinks 

 the ground for beets should be plowed quite deeji. but adds that it all depends on the 

 fertility and hardness of the soil. The seed should be from beets bearing high test 

 and free from weed seed, and tifteen pounds should generally be sown to each acre, 

 that is, when the rows are twenty inches apart. The reason for putting so much 

 on each acre is to malce certain that no l)reaks occur in the rows. 



Where ground is full of weed seed it is well to sow turnip seed with the beet seed; 

 turnip seed germinates more quickly and one is enabled to see the rows better. In 

 this way the weeds may be cut out before the beets appear above the ground. He 

 stated that it would be unprotitable for farmers to use the common grain drill for 

 sowing beets. The drills used sow two rows at a time. 



Prof. Smith cautioned farmers not to let beets get too large before weeding and 

 ihinning. As soon as the rows can be easily seen the work should commence. They 

 should be thinned out to one single beet every seven indies, llie job is a difficult 

 one; he figured that it took one person working seven and one-half hours a day, 

 seven and one-half days to weed and thin an acre of them. The first time through 

 them is the hardest part, for after they get large enough to shade the rround little 

 care is required. He said that the pulling and topping costs about six dollars per 

 acre, but predicted tliat in the near future some American ingenuity would appear 

 in the form of a beet harvester. The harvesting time is most critical of all busi- 

 ness. A heavy rainfall, when they are ready to harvest, is liable to cause a second 

 growth. 



By careful figuring. Prof. Smith proved that it does not pay for farmers to grow 

 sugar beets where they have more than five miles to haul them. Persons living 

 two or three miles from the factory can haul four or five loads each day, but those 

 living five miles cannot take more th;in two loads per day. The cost of raismg an 

 acre of beets varies— costing from thirty to forty dollars per acre, and the net profit 

 runs from ten to thirty dollars per acre. 



Numerous questions were asked both speakers of the session, who answered very 

 satisf.notorily. showing that they had a thorough knowledge of their subjects. One 

 question was asked Prof, smith which may be of interest to seme. Would tlie 

 sugar beet iudustrv be a profitable one if the bounty were removed? He proved 

 that farmers would realize from three and one-half to four dollars per ton if there 

 was no bount.y at all. 



This ended the afternoon session and the meeting stood adjourned. 



MISCELLANEOUS FIGURES. 



From reports of State speakers we learn that of all the County Insti- 

 tutes held last ^-ear 7G per cent of the audiences were farmers; 30 per 

 cent were under forty years of age; and 25 per cent of the general 

 audiences w-ere women. At the first afternoon session of all our County 

 Institutes, 15 per cent came over 8 miles to attend the meeting, nnd the 

 second afternoon, lo per cent. 2G per cent of all those attending the 

 third session had attended all previous sessions. The proportion of farm- 

 ers in the audience the first evening was 43 per cent of the total attend- 

 ance; the second evening, 29 per cent. 



