20 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Wm. McKay, Kawkawlin. There is as much difference in the per cent 

 of starch in potatoes and in the quality of chicory as is found in the 

 per cent of sug,ar in beets. The starch and chicory factories pay a flat rate 

 and, if this is the case, it seems strange that the same thing cannot be 

 done by beet sugar factories. 



Another comphiint that the growers make is that they do not receive 

 prompt reports of their shipments. In other cases, short weights are 

 reported, as when cars are filled with the certain amount of beets, 

 it often happens that when reported, the weight is but 60 to 75 per cent 

 of what was weighed into the car. 



The sugar beet industry has raised the cost of labor and this makes 

 potatoes, oats and other farm products cost several cents more per 

 bushel. 



Mr. Atherton, of Clinton County. Have you ever used commercial 

 fertilizers on the beets? 



Colon C. Lillie. I have applied commercial fertilizer at the rate of 

 five hundred pounds to theacre, at a cost of six dollars and a quarter. 

 This increased the yield four and seven-tenths tons per acre, or about 

 $25.00 Avorth of beets were secured by the use of $6.25 worth of fer- 

 tilizer. The fertilizer may be applied broadcast, or may be sown with a 

 grain drill with the seed. 



Creamery tests of milk run about the same and patrons seldom have 

 cause to complain, but beets vary both in test and tare when grown 

 under the same conditions, and until some method can be devised by 

 which the farmers are satisfied that they are not being cheated, there 

 will be dissatisfaction on the part of the growers. 



During the two years that I have grown beets, I have hauled them to 

 the cars with my regular teams and men without extra expense, so 

 that I consider- the usual estimate for this work of forty cents per ton 

 to be clear profit. 



On Tuesday afternoon a sugar beet section was held, with E. J. Cook 

 of Owosso in the chair. The topics considered related to the growing 

 afld handling of the crop. The following papers were submitted : 



