Cane vs. Beet 



sixty-five inches. Given favorable 

 growing conditions, such as the 

 cleared jungle of Cuba or Java, it re- 

 quires a minimum of labor. 



Sugar beets, on the other hand, 

 constitute a typical temperate zone 

 crop. They require rich soil, and 

 especially good drainage conditions. 

 If there is not abundant rainfall, the 

 beets must be irrigated. Unless the 

 soil is very rich in natural fertilizing 

 ingredients, it becomes necessary to 

 apply commercial fertilizer gener- 

 ously. The beet is a crop which re- 

 quires constant cultivation during 

 the early part of the growing season 

 and is subject to a number of ene- 

 mies and diseases. It has been noted 

 that as the beet crop has increased, 

 its enemies have become more wide- 

 spread and destructive each year. 



We see, thus, that the beet requires 

 land which is worth from forty to 

 two-hundred dollars per acre for 

 [47] 



