166 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Certain sections of Wyoming produce heavy crops of rich beets, especially 

 under irrigation. The same is true of Idaho, Nevada and North Dakota. 



In South Dakota, many experiments have been tried for several years which 

 demonstrate the adaptability of the sugar beet to that region. In '97, probably 1000 farm- 

 ers grew beets in an experimental way, and out of 300 samples received at the state 

 experiment station, Director Shepard reports that the sugar in the beets ranges from 12 

 to 23 per cent., average 16.4, with a purity of from 72 to 92, and average 86, a remark- 

 ably high showing. The past season 25 farmers have been growing the beet on a com- 

 mercial scale, from one-fourth to one acre, to determine the profits of the crop, at Brook- 

 ings, Huron, Yankton, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen. Samples from these crops show from 

 13 to 26 per cent, sugar of 77 to 94 purity, also a fine exhibit. 



"Montana can grow a sufficient quantity of beets in any one of several agricultural 

 valleys to supply several factories. The beets would meet the requirements for sugar 

 content and purity." Thus writes Director Emery of the state experiment station at 

 Bozeman. He submits figures showing a large number of tests in '97 and a lesser number 

 in '98, that show from 10 to 20 per cent, sugar in the beet of from 63 to 96 purity, or an 

 average of about 16 per cent, sugar and something over 80 purity. "The lowest results 

 are obtained where alkali is excessive and serves to lower the average." 



In the southwest, Oklahoma and the extreme west of Texas will probably be found 

 to contain much good sugar beet land. Arizona certainly does, but of course needs irri- 

 gation. 



New Mexico has one sugar factory at Eddy, in the Pecos valley, southeastern part 

 of the territory. The country is so new that the settlers have much to learn about grow- 

 ing the crop, and the factory has hardly had a fair chance yet, but there is every reason 

 to believe in the ultimate success of the industry in that section. One carload of beets 

 in '96 averaged 24 per cent, sugar of 92 purity. The factory sliced 134 tons per day the first 

 season and 160 its second campaign. Some 30 tons of mother beets, planted from seed in 

 February, '98, averaged 19-84. The '98 crop on 2000 acres ranged from 7 to 15 tons per 

 acre, averaging 16 per cent, and with favorable conditions should make 20,000 tons. 



PROSPERITY IN UTAH. 



We are now able to add the results of its last three campaigns to the exhibit of 

 Utah's first sugar mill at Lehi ; published on Page 58. Its '96 and '98 campaigns were 

 both very successful, but the '97 season was bad for beets and unsatisfactory for the mill. 

 The '98 campaign was the most successful season for both farmers and factory since it 

 started in '91. Many fields averaged 15 to 20 tons of dressed beets per acre. While only 

 about the same amount of beets was received as in '96, improvements in quality of beets 

 and in methods of agriculture and manufacture have helped along. The amount of sugar 

 in the beets has averaged 14^ per cent., compared to 12.6 last year, 13.9 in '96, and around 

 11 per cent, in the previous seasons. This factory has paid particular attention to theselec- 



