928 READINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



second, " the beet needs little if any moisture." During the third, 

 or sugar-storing period, " the plant should be given no water. 

 The conditions desirable at this period are plenty of light and 

 dry cool weather. If the beet is given moisture to any consider- 

 able extent, it will be at the expense of both sugar and purity." 



The irrigated regions of Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, 

 supply just the right combination of climate and moisture cool 

 temperature, abundant sunshine, moisture as needed, absence of 

 moisture when harmful. Hence Colorado and Utah are described 

 as the ideal beet-sugar states. " Considering everything, Utah is 

 the ideal beet-sugar state. ... Its natural conditions are quite 

 similar to those of Colorado." In Colorado 12 to 25 tons of 

 beets to the acre are readily secured ; even in the early days 1 5 

 to 1 7^ tons were got on the average ; whereas in European 

 countries not only is the tonnage per acre less, but the sugar 

 content smaller. California, where the industry first was under- 

 taken on any considerable scale, and where it has grown steadily, 

 has some special advantages. A good part of its beet district has 

 just the required combination of climate and precipitation. ^ 



Contrast such exceptionally favorable climatic conditions with 

 those of the Great Lakes region. The successive reports of the 

 Department of Agriculture dwell on the uncertainty of the beet- 

 sugar crop in this zone because of the irregularity of rain and 

 sunshine. The Michigan farmer, unlike the grower in the 

 irrigated region, cannot count with certainty on abundant sunshine 



1 " The exceptional soil and climatological conditions in California seem pecul- 

 iarly adapted to the production of beets with a high sugar content. While their 

 reported yield per acre is not so great as that of some other states, the sugar 

 content is decidedly in excess of any other, so that with an acreage considerably 

 less than that of Michigan the total yield of sugar is much more. The calculated 

 yield per acre for the past season was very nearly 3310 pounds. Many of the 

 California soils are very retentive of moisture, so that with an annual rainfall fair 

 below that of the central and eastern part of the country beets can be grown 

 successfully without irrigation. The little rain which they have is usually so nicely 

 distributed through the early and middle seasons of growth as to leave almost 

 ideal conditions for the period of ripening, with its accompanying storage of 

 sugarin the cells. This ripening process is also materially assisted by the alter- 

 nation of cool nights and warm days, a condition which seems best suited to the 

 formation and storage of sugar in this plant." Report on Beet-Sugar Industry 

 in 1910 and 191 1, p. 19 ^ 



