EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAE BOOK— PART III. 91 



beets that the cultivation given the beets benefits the land to an extent 

 that the increase in succeeding crops will more than offset the cultivation. 

 They state that the use of the sugar beet as a rotating crop increases 

 the acreage production of wheat 24 per cent, barley 25 per cent, rye 15 

 per cent, peas 86 per cent and potatoes 102 per cent, oats 30 per cent. 



Beets require a moderately fertile soil. They can not be grown on 

 light sandy ridges, nor in peat, nor in sour bottom land. The plant is 

 very hardy and is not materially affected by hailstorms, drouth, nor heavy 

 rains if the drainage is such that the land is not soured. 



The price is fixed and is not affected by too productive a year and it 

 is the only crop grown by the farmer which has an assured market price 

 before the seed goes in the ground. It is not necessary to construct 

 cribs or barns to store the crop. In the event of a heavy surplus it may 

 be necsesary to pit, in which case the factories allow the farmer for his 

 extra work. 



Freight rates have been made by the railroads so that shipments 

 can be profitably made to factories within a radius of 150 miles, the 

 factories generally assuming all freight in excess of 50 cents per ton. 



The cost of construction of factories approximates $100,000 for each 100 

 tons slicing capacity, with a minimum of $500,000. 



I have tried to give you a general idea of the method of cultivation, as 

 well as the maiufacture of sugar, and I will be glad to explain any one 

 of the items further or to answer any questions pertaining to the business. 



The President : The paper is open for discussion or any ques- 

 tions that any one may wish to ask. 



Question: Do I understand you furnish the labor or hands? 



Mr. Moore : "We furnish the hands to the fanner where we can 

 get a family ; the contractor will furnish that labor for $20 per acre. 

 We had no trouble about getting help. The reason for that is this : 

 take these men working in the packing houses, take it in the sum- 

 mer, their children tw^elve to fifteen years of age have as much of 

 an earning capacity as a woman. We have had several families at 

 Waverly during the summer, the men of which families during the 

 past summer earned enough to support them, and they went back 

 to Omaha with from $350 to $400, as the wages of that family. That 

 is why we are able to get this help, because, as you see, they have a 

 chance to earn more money than in any other way. The men and 

 women generally do the blocking with the hoe, and the children do 

 the thinning ; they are small and active and can get over the ground 

 very readily. 



Question: Do I understand you induce a farmer to put in as 

 much as 25 acres? 



'Mr. Moore: We do not advise that. There are cases where a 

 man has exceptionally good ground, and he will put in 25 acres; 

 in that case, we furnish the help. 



