FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 19 



could know that he got his correct test there would be no cause of 

 complaint. We ship the beets in faith and we accept the test in faith. 

 It is not right. The grower should have some way so he may know 

 that he is getting his just due. If this cannot be done, in my opinion 

 the test will have to go and the beets be bought at a flat rate per ton. 

 The manufacturer need not expect that farmers will take their word 

 for the test and know nothing about it. Turn the tables and they would 

 not submit to such a proposition for a moment. Some one may yet 

 devise a method so the farmer can test his beets as easily as he can 

 now test his cows. Then he can keep tab on the factory. If nothing of 

 this sort happens then it will not be many years before beets are not 

 bought by the test. 



The tare. — This is another bone of contention between the grower and 

 the manufacturer, and the dissatisfaction comes from the same reason 

 that it 'does in the test. The farmer has no way of checking the work 

 of the factory. He must accept its figures in good faith and ask no 

 questions. I believe most if not all the manufacturers are honest, but 

 this does not alter the proposition. The principle of the thing is wrong. 

 No business has ever prospered and none ever will prosper for any length 

 of time in America, where both parties to a transaction have not the 

 means of knowing whether the business is done right or not. The Amer- 

 ican farmer wants to know whether he is getting what belongs to him or 

 not, and it is proper he should. He may submit to such a thing long 

 enough to try a new industry, but he will not support an industry 

 long on this principle. Some one must devise a better system. Many 

 farmers are suspicious that they have not been treated fairly in this 

 matter of tare, and there are some instances where the factory has not 

 been above suspicion. A certain party last year produced three car-loads 

 of beets. Owing to the wet condition of the ground they were all dirty. 

 One car Avas washed and then all were sent to the factory. Strange 

 to say, the per cent of tare was alike for each car. How would the 

 factory account for this? My belief is that a majority of the farmers, 

 favorably situated as to' soil and convenient to a sugar factory, wish 

 to grow beets. They believe in it, but they want some way of knowing 

 that thej' are treated fairly as to test and tare. 



If the sugar beet industry could be so arranged that the farmer 

 could deliver his beets at his nearest station, and right then and there 

 have his test and tare settled, there would be no trouble in getting 

 acreage for all the factories. Why could not the factory handle beets as 

 potatoes are now handled? Have the price per ton agreed upon and 

 then settle the tare right there with the farmer. 



Perry G. To war. Beets are sampled for tare in the same manner 

 whether they are taken from wagons or cars. The man who unloads 

 them fills a basket with a fork and does not have an opportunity to 

 pick out beets that will have a high per cent of tare. If the farmers 

 wish a flat rate for their beets, the factories will give it to them and 

 if a weighing and tare station at points where large amounts of beets 

 are shipped will give better satisfaction than the present arrangement, 

 this can undoubtedly be arranged for. 



