70 THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



cially is this true in Montana, where practically nothing was done in this line until 

 the past year. In Wyoming, on the other hand, many tests were made 1891-5, show- 

 ing average yields of from 8 to 14 tons per acre, an average sugar content of from 16 

 to 17 per cent with from 78 to 83 purity. Summarizing all this work done by the 

 state experiment station at Laramie, Prof Buffum concludes that "the yield averages 

 sufficient to make it a profitable crop, while the beets are of better quality than in 

 many states where factories are successfully operated." 



In Colorado, more than 50 localities have grown beets and the conditions have 

 proven favorable everywhere under 7000 ft altitude, though best under 6000 ft, when 

 the ground and crop are properly handled. Co-efficient of purity is good. The yield 

 runs from 10 to 15 per cent of sucrose, averaging fully 13 per cent, and under proper 

 conditions much more than that. Results in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Cali- 

 fornia have already been enumerated. 



In Idaho, the yield runs from 10 to 26 tons per acre with a large sugar content of 

 high purity. In Washington, very fortunately, a great number of experiments 

 have been conducted in most parts of the state under the auspices of the state exper- 

 iment station at Pullman. Over 1700 analyses have been made, showing an average of 

 more than 15 per cent sugar of nearly 84 purity. The beets from almost every county 

 closely approximate this standard. It is a remarkable showing and demonstrates be- 

 yond a peradventure that the state of Washington is singularly adapted to the indus- 

 try. The average yield per acre is not reported, but Prof Fulmer says: "It is proba- 

 ble that an average of 20 tons per acre would be a conservative estimate." Allowing 

 for the extraordinary richness of Washington soil, it is probable that this is rather 

 high. In Oregon, tests were conducted for three years 1891-3, and again last year, 

 showing that beets raised under all sorts of conditions varied from 8 to 22i per cent 

 sugar in the juice of above 80 purity. Prof G. W. Shaw's analysis of beets grown by 

 an expert in Washington county the past year averaged 16| to nearly 18 per cent 

 sugar of 88 to 91 purity, and even after the second rains in the fall these beets aver- 

 aged over 12 and 80. Prof Shaw believes that even west of the Cascade mountains, 

 the earlier crops of beets would be harvested before the fall rains start a second 

 growth, and that even in that region as well as east of it, the state is wonderfully 

 adapted to the sugar beet. 



IN THE SOUTH. 



VIRGINIA Mr O. K. Lapam, who operated a small factory at Staunton, Va, for two 

 or three seasons, until it was burned, is enthusiastic over the possibilities of the indus- 

 try in this section. The bee^s averaged 14 to 14| per cent of sugar and yielded an aver- 

 age of from 12 to 13 tons per acre, at a cost of from $10 to $40 per acre including delivery 

 of beets to factory and fertilizers as well as all other expenses. He estimates the aver- 

 age cost at $25 to $30 per acre in the south when beets are grown within five miles of 

 the factory. At $4 per ton and an average of 12| tons per acre, the income would be 

 $50 per acre. To this should be added six tons of pulp, worth to the farmer $2 per ton 

 or $12 per acre, while the improvement of his land by deep tillage and thorough de- 

 struction of weeds is at least $5 more. The crop which follows beets will yield 50 per 



