INDIRECT BENEFITS OF SUGAK-BEET CULTURE. 7 



Seventh. By rotating beets with 9,000 acres of wheat, barley, oats, 

 and other crops, the consequent deep plowing, thorough cultivation, 

 and aerating effect of the beet rootlets keeps their soil in perfect 

 physical condition and so greatly increases the yield of all other crops 

 that this produces the greatest profit of all. 



By following the above method, they are able to extract the last 

 dollar the estate is capable of producing, and however long this method 

 might be continued, the productivity of the soil would be maintained 

 at its maximum. It reminded me of Armour's packing house, where 

 he said they saved all of the hog but the squeal. The Hatvanys own 

 two other large estates in Hungary, one of 15,000 acres, both equipped 

 with huge up-to-date beet-sugar factories, the raw product for which 

 furnishes the inspiration for this character of farming. This is but 

 one of many equally well-managed European estates where sugar 

 beets form the pivot around which all agricultural operations center. 



At last, by personal experience, those of our farmers who employ 

 correct cultural methods and who keep a record of their yields, are 

 beginning to learn what our scientists and economists have failed to 

 teach them concerning the improvement of the soil through beet 

 culture. Numerous letters received from farmers in your State> as 

 well as in other States, show this, and as showing that these bene- 

 ficial effects are not confined to any one section of our country, I 

 have produced a few letters from each of several beet-sugar-producing 

 States. 



On my next study trip to Europe I hope to conclude my researches 

 on this phase of the sugar question, after which I will present you 

 with something more than a boiled-down statement, such as I am 

 inclosing herewith. I then will lay before you and your colleagues 

 and before the country statements in extenso concerning economic 

 facts of record, the results of a long line of experiments conducted 

 by the most prominent agricultural scientists and economists Europe 

 has produced during the past century, together with their conclusions, 

 a record of my personal observations in Europe and in the United 

 States, and the statements of such American beet farmers in the 

 various States as have kept records of their yields and noted the 

 increase. From the data already gathered, I am confident that I 

 will be able to present such a quantity of indisputable evidence as 

 to prove to any fair-minded person that by producing our sugar at 

 home the net profits accruing to our farmers through the excess 

 yields of other crops would exceed by many times the total value 

 of the sugar produced, and it would seem that an industry of such 

 potentiality for creating wealth should interest every thinking per- 

 son, irrespective of party affiliations or preconceived contrary ideas 

 of economics. 



To the end that we may increase our national prosperity and at the 

 same time lower the cost of producing our food supply, it would 

 appear that something, anything, everything within reason should 

 be done to force or cajole or coax our farmers to plow deep, to cultivate 

 thoroughly, to care for their barnyard manure properly and to estab- 

 lish a reasonably scientific system of crop rotation, whereby the field 

 to which they apply their energies will be made to yield as much or 

 more than do the rejuvenated soils of Europe. 

 Very sincerely, yours, 



TRUMAN G. PALMER. 



