THE SUGAR-BEET IN AMERICA 



CHAPTER I 

 GENERAL VIEW OF THE INDUSTRY 



The beet-sugar industry in America has but recently 

 passed out of the experimental stage. It was undertaken 

 nearly a century ago by men who had more enthusiasm 

 than knowledge concerning the raising of beets and the 

 methods of extracting sugar from them. Early attempts 

 to establish the industry on the Western Hemisphere were 

 not successful, partly because of the lack of scientific 

 methods and partly because beet-growing was first tried 

 in unfavorable localities. It also required time to train 

 farmers to grow beets and experts to make beet-sugar. 

 Legislation, also, has been a factor. When regions well 

 adapted to beet-culture were chosen, when farmers became 

 familiar with methods of raising beets, when methods of 

 extracting sugar from the beets were improved, and when 

 legislation was favorable, then was the industry able to 

 establish itself and to pass beyond precarious infancy. 

 This stage being passed, the industry has now entered 

 the period of vigorous youth — the time of greatest virility 

 and growth. The beet-sugar industry is now firmly es- 

 tablished in America ; it is ready to take its place in the 

 sisterhood of great American industries. 



B 1 



