CHAPTER XIV 

 FACTORS AFFECTING QUALITY OF BEETS 



Success in the beet-sugar industry depends on the 

 maintenance of high quaUty in the beets. The industry 

 was made possible only by improving the quality of the 

 crop ; in the first years of beet-sugar making, profits were 

 realized only in the more favorable seasons. Since the 

 quality of beets has been so much improved, the industry 

 has gained a foothold that places the raising of sugar- 

 beets as one of the important phases of agriculture in 

 many sections. As the success of the industry is so 

 closely related to the quality of beets, everybody con- 

 nected with their raising or the manufacture of sugar from 

 them is interested in conditions that affect quality. 



WHAT ARE GOOD BEETS 



In choosing desirable types of beets, several definite 

 ideas should be kept in mind. Chief attention must be 

 given to high sugar-content combined with high yield. 

 These two characters are somewhat antagonistic, yet 

 neither can be neglected. The end sought is the highest 

 acre-yield of sugar. At the same time, it is desirable to 

 have beets of a size and shape that can be harvested and 

 handled at the lowest possible labor cost to the farmer as 

 well as beets from which the manufacturer can extract 



205 



