THE BEET-SUGAR INDUSTRY IN 1920. 43 



ing are in those localities where the labor is handled by the family 

 of the grower. In those localities the beet acreage per farm is usually 

 small and the beet labor is not burdensome. This class of labor is 

 usually more vitally interested in the success of the crop than other 

 kinds of labor, and therefore greater pains are taken to produce and 

 maintain good stands. 



Community labor. — By community labor is meant the exchange of 

 labor between the beet-growing families in a given community. 

 Usually not all the beets in a given community are ready to be 

 thinned or harvested at the same time, and since both of these opera- 

 tions must be done as promptly as possible when the beets are ready, 

 it has been found advantageous for families in the same community 

 to use the exchange-labor method in handling this crop. This ex- 

 change system is not confined to the beet crop, but is a common prac- 

 tice in many localities in carrying on all kinds of farm work which 

 needs to be done quickly, such as haying and grain harvesting. 



General labor. — By general labor is meant that labor which is 

 employed by the day, month, or year for the general farm work. 

 Transient labor is that part of this labor that comes and goes with- 

 out any certainty as to its permanency and with little responsibility 

 as to the results of the work. It is seldom used in handling the 

 sugar-beet crop, as it is not sufficiently dependable. All farming 

 communities are familiar with this kind of labor to a greater or less 

 extent. It is unreliable and unsatisfactory, but sometimes enables 

 a farmer to get through a temporary rush period without serious 

 damage to his crop. On many farms there are monthly or annual 

 laborers who take part in all of the farming operations, including 

 the sugar-beet work. Usually this class of labor is very satisfactory 

 in the beet fields, and the farmers are fortunate if by the aid of their 

 general helpers they are able to care for the beet crop in addition 

 to the other work. 



Contract labor. — This is the most common class of labor employed 

 to do the handwork in caring for the sugar-beet crop, and, as the term 

 implies, the work is done under contract. The term " contract labor " 

 as used in this connection is often misunderstood. It is thought 

 by some who are not familiar with beet-growing conditions that the 

 so-called beet-labor contracts are decidedly to the advantage of the 

 landowner or of the sugar company and that such labor is compelled 

 to work under contract. Usually the sugar company has no interest 

 in the contract labor except in helping the grower to get his work 

 done at the proper time and in the best possible manner. The land- 

 owner or beet grower desires a contract, so that he will be sure of the 

 necessary 'help in handling his crop at the proper time, but above 

 all the laborers themselves desire a contract which specifies the 

 number of acres of beets that a given individual, family, or other 



