40 BULLETIN 995, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



equipment on a beet farm is the work stock, which should be suffi- 

 cient in number, size, and quality to handle the work readily. For 

 the heavy work, such as deep plowing, lifting, and hauling the beets, 

 heavy work animals, similar to those shown in Plates II, V, and VI, 

 are desirable. Work stock of proper size and quality, therefore, are 

 an essential part of the equipment. The horses should be trained 

 to follow rows when cultivating. Large animals, properly trained 

 and handled, will do this work without injury to the beets and may 

 be used unless small animals are available for this purpose. 



Apparently the tractor is taking the place of work animals in some 

 localities for many of the operations on sugar-beet farms. A farm 

 tractor should be of simple and durable construction, moderate in 

 price, easily and cheaply operated, and capable of making fair speed 

 when required. 



Animals, in addition to work stock, are essential on the sugar-beet 

 farm in order to utilize to the best advantage the beet tops and 

 pulp, as well as the feeds grown in rotation with the beets, and also 

 to furnish the necessary farmyard manure required to keep up and 

 improve the fertility of the soil. The particular kind of stock, 

 whether dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep, hogs, or poultry, will depend 

 upon the locality, especially with reference to the markets, upon the 

 kind of labor obtainable for handling the stock, and upon the other 

 farm crops adapted to that particular locality. 



The question of labor on a beet farm is of vital importance, and 

 the lack of labor to handle beets at the proper time will constitute 

 a limiting factor in sugar-beet production. Other things being- 

 equal, the beet grower with sufficient dependable labor of good qual- 

 ity at his command will handle the crop to the best advantage. For 

 those growers who have not a sufficient amount of labor available for 

 the production of sugar beets in addition to the other farm work, 

 the sugar companies will usually undertake to obtain laborers. These 

 laborers usually are transient, coming into an area at the beginning 

 of the growing season, caring for a given acreage of beets during 

 that season, and returning to their homes after the beets are har- 

 vested. In some instances they go out year after year to work in 

 the same locality and for the same farmers. Frequently they rent 

 land after a few years of experience and remain in the community 

 throughout the year ; such workers sometimes purchase land, thereby 

 becoming landowners and employers of labor. The labor imported 

 into an area for work in connection with sugar beets is handled under 

 contract at a fixed price per acre. Before he leaves his home the 

 laborer demands a contract stipulating the acreage that he will be 



