BEET SUGAR 



921 



BEET-SUGAR PRODUCT IN THE UNITED STATES 1 



Arizona ; and then, turning again, proceeds west and northwest 

 through California, Utah, Idaho, and the Columbia valley. It 

 includes a great part of the north-central region. Yet in the 

 last mentioned, the most important and productive agricultural 

 region of the country, there is virtually no beet growing or sugar 

 making, except, as just mentioned, in Michigan. The climatic 

 and agricultural possibilities are not turned to account until the 

 Far West is reached. 



The reason for the absence of beet growing and hence of 

 sugar-beet production in the north-central region is to be found 

 in the principle of comparative advantage agriculture is applied 

 with greater effectiveness in other directions. It is not that the 

 climate or soil or even the men make it more difficult to grow 

 beets here than in Europe. It is simply that other ways of using 

 the land are found more advantageous. 



An excellent investigator in the agricultural aspects of the 

 beet-sugar industry has said: "The growing of beets is not 

 agriculture, but horticulture." All the manuals and pamphlets 

 insist on the need of elaborate preparation, minute care, much 



1 In million pounds. 



