278 



CULTURE OF THE SUGAR BEET. 



Summing up these items, the following figures are arrived at in favor or in disfavor 

 of the sugar industry in Minnesota, as compared with Denmark, provided 8 per cent, 

 of sugar is realized in both countries : 



Deducting the extra expenses from the savings, we arrive at the following real sav- 

 ings in favor of Minnesota : 



Per ton of beets $3 48 



Per pound of sugar 2. 17 



But the whole calculation depends upon the question, can beets be grown in Min- 

 nesota which will yield 8 per cent, of sugar ? The most careful study of tables of 

 rainfall and temperature, and of analysis of the soil, cannot decide the question. 

 The only way is to try. Seed of rich sugar beets should be distributed to intelligent 

 farmers throughout the Northwest, accompanied by directions how to grow beets. 

 The farmers who undertake to carefully make the experiments should be requested 

 to return an average sample of the crop, describing the soil in which the beets are 

 grown, and the treatment of it ; the fruits which the land bore in previous years ; 

 the manure, if any, that was used ; the time at which the manure and the seed were 

 sown, and at which the thinning out, the harrowings and hoeings, and the harvest 

 were performed ; the yield per acre, &c. The samples should be analyzed, not only 

 for sugar (and especially that kind of sugar which would turn the polarized light to 

 the right, and which would crystallize), but also for organic and inorganic non-sugar. 

 Such a material for one year would already afford valuable suggestions, and, carried 

 on for several years, such experiments would justify a decided opinion about the pro- 

 priety of the introduction of the industry. To start a large and expensive factory 

 without such foundation would be to run a great risk, and to establish small and 

 cheap factories would always prove a failure. 



As to the plan for establishing sugar factories, several systems prevail in Europe. 

 One is the cooperative, very much like the system of cheese factories and creameries 

 in certain sections of this country. The farmers in a section intending to establish a 

 sugar factory form a joint stock company, and are bound to deliver to the factory the 

 beet crop of a certain number of acres for each share in their possession (in Bruns- 

 wick generally 8 acres for each share of $100). 



For the last ten years the sugar factories have become very expensive, being profit- 

 able ouly when very large and when furnished with the latest inventions. Therefore, 

 the farmers could not afford to build their own factories if it were not for large stock 

 companies which undertake to build and furnish factories for the farmers, leaving 

 the greater part of the cost at low interest to be paid off gradually, against mortgage 

 in the buildings. This plan does not work well in a country where the industry is 

 new, and, though it is no doubt best of all, it cannot be introduced until the beet- 

 sugar industry has proved an tin question able success, and is known to the people as 

 a safe thing to invest in. 



Another plan is for a stock company to establish a factory, buying the beets from 

 the farmers, and return the refuse (pulp) to be consumed on the land, so as not to 



