IMPORTANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET 453 



1900, the production of beet sugar amounted to 76,589 long 

 tons, while that of cane sugar was 278,470 long tons, or 

 nearly four times as much. In 1910, the production of beet 

 sugar had reached 450,000 tons, while that of cane sugar was 

 311,000 tons, only about two-thirds as much. The average 

 area of sugar beets harvested in the United States for the 

 nine years from 1901 to 1909 was 297,000 acres, with a pro- 

 duction of 2,877,000 tons of beets, from which 685,387,000 

 pounds of sugar were made. In this time the area devoted 

 to the crop had increased from 175,000 acres in 1901 to 420,- 

 000 acres in 1909, the production of sugar from 369,000,000 

 pounds to 1,025,000,000 pounds, and the number of factories 

 from thirty-six to sixty-five. 



Colorado was the leading state in production in 1909, 

 with sixteen factories and 298,810,000 pounds of sugar. 

 California was second with 254,544,000 pounds, Michigan 

 third with 212,106,000 pounds, and Utah fourth with 97,- 

 768,000 pounds. Idaho produced about forty million 

 pounds, and Wisconsin about thirty-four million pounds. 

 In addition, there was one factory in each of eleven other 

 states, scattered from New York to Washington and Ari- 

 zona, with a total production of 87,382,000 pounds. The 

 area of sugar beet production in this country is capable of 

 almost indefinite extension, while the region where sugar 

 cane can be grown is comparatively limited. 



595. Culture. The culture of sugar beets differs little 

 from that of mangels (Sec. 535). The crop grows best in a 

 loam or sandy loam soil. Good preparation is essential, as 

 the seed is rather slow to germinate. The land should be 

 as free as possible from weeds, because the heaviest expense 

 of production is for cultivation. The seed is ordinarily sown 

 with a beet drill which sows several rows at a time; the usual 

 distance between the rows is from 20 to 28 inches. Where the 



