THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. ii'.i 



ers would adopt some such system. To an eastern agriculturist such a rotation may appear 

 to be a terrific strain upon land that is not fertilized, but so far the land snows no sign or 

 deterioration. 



"Plowing In plowing- and preparation of the soil for beets our farmers usually 

 plow but once, and complete the preparation of the soil by working from the surface, 

 without turning the soil over again. The reason for this is that, if land is re-plowed late, 

 we may not get sufficient grain to work the surface fine enough for a seed bed for the 

 beet seed. In late plowing there is also the chance of losing moisture that may not be 

 regained, for, after March ana even February, our spring rains cannot be relied upon 

 However, on badl> drained land, or land foul with weeds, two plowings may be neces- 

 sary. The plowing is deep, from 10 to 12 inches, and is performed by single or two-gang 

 sulkies, drawn by four to six horses. Sub-soiling is not practiced, for, when the top 12 



LARGEST BEET SUGAR FACTORY IN THE WORLD. 



Near view of 111:1111 building of new beet sugar mill at Spreckels, in the Salinas valley, Monterey 

 Co.,Cal.. built by tlie Spreckels Sugar Co., Clans Spre< kels president. This structure is 582x102 feet, five 

 stories high, contains 3500 tons of steel and 4.000,000 brick, and with the accompanying buildings, 

 machinery, etc., represents a cost of $2,500,000. The boiler house is 559.\CK feet, 22 feet high, contains 24 

 enormous boilers and four economizers, and its steel smokestacks are 216'feet high, 13 feet in diameter 

 and each weighs 1000 tons. The machine shop and carpenter shop is 559x40 feet, 22 feet high ; oil house 

 20x32, warehouse'80x200, scale house '-'1x32, office 70x70. A reservoir for water holds 1,300,000 gallons, be- 

 ing 22 feel deep and 200x00 feet. There are also enormous silos for pulp, beet sheds, etc., the wnole 

 plant covering some 500 acres. A distant view of the factory, giving also an idea of the surrounding 

 country, appears on Page 170, and on 1'age 181 is a different view showing boiler sheds, etc. 



Inches is plowed, the soil below is generally too wet to work, and sub-soiling would then 

 do more harm than good. The cultivators used, 1 am glad to say, are all made by our local 

 shops and are exceedingly well suited to the work. A couple of deep culttvatings, with 

 a few hr.rrowings and a rolling or dragging, are usually sufficient to complete the prepa- 

 ration of the soil. Our farmers have grown proficient in working the soil for beets, and 



