THE BEET-SUGAR INDUSTEY IN THE UNITED STATES. 41 



in drying the pulp is to make it easier to handle. About 80 per cent 

 of the weight is lost in drying and when dried it can be shipped 

 long distances. It should be soaked for several hours before it is 

 fed to stock. 



Numher of live stock to heep. — It is apparent that there should be 

 a suitable ratio between the number of live stock and the available 

 tops, pulp, and other feed on the faim. As stated above, animals 

 can not be finished for the market on the beet by-products, and unless 

 other feed is available it will not be advisable to purchase animals 

 for feeding purposes with a view to turning them on the market 

 later. If the farmer is provided with dairy cows, it is advisable to 

 furnish them with one or two feeds of tops or pulp each day. The 

 tops, when cured or pitted, will keep for several months; the pulp 

 when left in a large pile will not spoil for feeding purposes, except 

 in a thin layer on the surface. If the tops or the pulp are fed heavily 

 to dairy cows, a distinct increase in the flow of milk marks the top 

 and pulp-feeding period, and there will generally be a distinct falling 

 off in the flow of milk when this feed is discontinued. Since the 

 supply of tops and pulp is limited, it is better to continue the feeding 

 over a longer period, giving a smaller amount to each of the animals 

 daily. The tops and pulp should always be fed in combination with 

 other feeds in order to make a balanced ration. 



LABOR PROBLEMS. 



One of the most serious problems on many of the beet farms is that 

 of labor. The difficulties in connection with the labor question as 

 related to sugar-beet culture are due to the fact that a part of the 

 work must be done by hand and is tedious and, furthermore, the 

 labor in connection with this crop is not continuous. For example, 

 there is a period in the spring when considerable labor is required 

 for the blocking and thinning of the beets, as shown in Plate III, 

 figure 1. The work during midsummer is light, consisting of a little 

 hoeing. In the fall there is another increase in the labor require- 

 ment, due to the harvest, followed by the winter months, when little 

 or no field work in connection with this crop is done. The need 

 for labor at harvest time is apparent, as the beets must be harvested 

 promptly when they are mature. The reasons for pushing the beet 

 harvest are several: Fall rains may set in and cause the roots to 

 deteriorate in quality, the roots may be frozen in the ground if har- 

 vest is delayed, the mill must have sufficient roots to operate con- 

 tinuously, and the farmer must get the beet crop out of the way in 

 order to do his other fall work. The question of securing and hold- 

 ing the necessary labor for the handling of this crop has been one of 

 the serious problems in sugar-beet growing in this country. Beet 



