THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 139 



ham, speaking from results and experience in Virginia, would in no wise depart from 

 the methods that have been best in Europe. 



Beets should never be raised on a large scale by any grower the first year, unless 

 he is willing to spend a large amount of money and does not consider the loss, if any 

 occurs. For the average western farmer it would be advisable not to raise more than 

 three acres the first year, and every beet grower should make it his rule to follow 

 the advice given by the factory as near as possible, and leave his experiments until 

 the second season. 



Look out for the promoter or grower who "knows it all." The more experience 

 sensible men have in field or factory, the more they find there is to learn. 



One of the greatest needs in the American sugar industry, is for scientific and 

 practical experts to manage the large number of factories required to produce the 

 sugar this country consumes. To supply this need, one or more sugar schools should 

 be established by government in connection with sugar factories. It is by such tech- 

 nical education that Germany has developed the industry so rapidly and successfully. 



Another great need is more definite knowledge about the culture of beets. Much 

 can be done at all of our experiment stations. The various states in which this 

 industry is developing should also offer prizes for the best results in beet-sugar cul- 

 ture, to the farmers producing them for factories. The prizes should be governed 

 not only by yield and quality, but by the intelligence and correctness with which an 

 account is given of the methods of culture, expense of production, etc. There is a 

 loud call for accurate data on all these points. This book is an effort to supply this 

 demand, but circumstances in different sections vary so widely that much must be 

 done in each state, and in different parts of each state, to get at exact facts and best 

 practice. 



No factory enterprise should expect to make money during its first two years. 

 There is always much educational work to perform of a costly nature, although much 

 of this work has been done by existing factories. 



A gentleman who has had long and costly experience in this industry and with 

 sugar factories writes us privately, regarding factory enterprises: "Avoid jumping to 

 conclusions; take plenty of time in studying up the question of where to locate, espe- 

 cially guarding that which is most important, an abundant supply of raw matei'ial; a 

 good supply of water; good fuel, lime rock and coke at a reasonable cost; railroad 

 facilities, and where you are to market the product of your factory, making a long- 

 time contract with your railroads, on sugar out and material in, especially beets. 

 Always select a place where the beets can be grown in the immediate vicinity of the 

 factory, and never attempt to build a poor factory, or any at all, unless you have 

 abundant capital to see you through the first few years, which are always largely 

 experimental. Secure the best possible talent. A cheap superintendent is one of the 

 gravest mistakes. A year can be well spent in investigating before starting such an 

 enterprise. The great thing to be guarded against is, that people who have neither 

 money nor experience in the business will become promoters and that factories will 

 be put up that must fail." 



We hope there will be no attempt to overdo this, business. The over-booming, 

 over-promoting and over-financiering of railroads and similar schemes in the west 



