CHAPTER VII 

 CONTRACTS FOR RAISING BEETS 



IT seems desirable both for the sugar company and for 

 the farmer to have a contract on the raising of beets signed 

 before the crop is planted. The farmer would have no 

 market for the crop of beets if the sugar company did not 

 buy them. He might feed a few to stock, but on the 

 ordinary beet farm only a comparatively small number 

 could be used in this way. He should be sure, therefore, 

 before planting the crop, that the sugar company will 

 take it ; otherwise, he runs the risk of a heavy loss. Like- 

 wise, the sugar company needs to know early in the sea- 

 son the approximate tonnage of beets that it will have to 

 slice in order that necessary equipment and supplies may 

 be secured. These conditions have led to the universal 

 practice of contracting in advance all beets that are raised 

 for the factory. 



ADVANTAGES OF CONTRACTING 



Farming is one of the most uncertain of all businesses. 

 This is partly because of the irregularities in prices. One 

 year potatoes or hogs will be high and the farmer thinks 

 he should produce more of these commodities ; but by the 

 time he has a large number of potatoes or hogs to sell, the 



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