48 The Sugar-Beet in America 



in order that the best possible distribution of the laborers 

 may be made. In some communities where there is in- 

 sufficient labor, farmers bid against one another for the 

 labor that is available, resulting in prices out of all pro- 

 portion to the service obtained. Such action does not 

 improve the labor situation ; it merely raises wages with- 

 out increasing the efficiency of the labor. An appeal to 

 the sugar companies or the government for additional 

 workers might bring the required labor at prices satis- 

 factory to both the growers and the workers. 



When labor must be hired, it is much more satisfactory 

 to have the work done by contracts based on tonnage 

 than merely to contract by the piece or by the acre. 

 Time labor, though usually slower than piece contracting, 

 results in better work if properly supervised. Since man 

 labor constitutes nearly half the total cost of growing 

 beets, and since more than two-thirds of this labor comes 

 at the time of thinning and harvesting, it is imperative 

 that as many labor-saving devices as possible be used. 

 Relief at the harvest season seems to be in sight, for a 

 number of mechanical toppers are proving successful. 

 No practical method has as yet been devised for lessening 

 materially the labor of blocking and thinning. Up to 

 the present time machines designed to do this work have 

 failed to give satisfaction. 



Capital. 



The raising of sugar-beets requires much more capital 

 than do most other crops. In the first place, good sugar- 

 beet land is usually high-priced. Special planters, culti- 

 vators, harvesters, and racks are required in handling the 



