PREFACE 



Sugar, which was once a luxury, has become a necessity 

 in naiodern dietaries. The civilized nations have become 

 so accustomed to its use as an important food that great 

 inconvenience is experienced if it cannot be had or if the 

 supply is reduced. This has made sugar-producing plants 

 almost as staple as those from which bread is derived. As a 

 result, sugar-beets, in the past century, have won an im- 

 portant place among the profitable crops of the temperate 

 zone. In most of the European countries they have been 

 raised extensively, whereas in America their growth has 

 been confined to a comparatively few localities. In re- 

 cent years, however, the area has been greatly extended, 

 and increased interest has been taken in establishing a 

 domestic beet-sugar industry. 



Much has been written about sugar-beets in America 

 within the last thirty years, but most of this material is 

 scattered through numerous bulletins and reports of ex- 

 periment stations and the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, and is not easily available. For some time 

 a book containing the important facts regarding sugar- 

 beet production has been needed. This has become more 

 apparent since the beginning of the European war, which 

 caused a sugar shortage in western Europe and America. 

 In response to this need the present volume is prepared. 

 It is hoped that it may be useful to farmers who are rais- 



