THE BEET-SUGAE. INDUSTRY IN" THE UNITED STATES. 63 



beet roots when delivered and the other is the part of the crown that 

 is sometimes left on the beet when the beet is topped. Tare is 

 obtained by taking a sample from a load of beets and weighing it 

 carefully. The dirt is then removed from this sample, usually by 

 means of a stiff brush, and the beets, if not properly topped, are 

 correctly topped and the cleaned topped roots again weighed. The 

 difference between the original weight of the sample and the clean, 

 properly topped beets is the tare. This is usually reduced to a per- 

 centage, and the entire load is tared on the basis of the sample tared. 

 Most sugar-beet tare houses are provided with scales that give a 

 direct reading of the percentage of tare for each sample as it is 

 weighed. 



AREA COMPETITION. 



The competition between adjacent beet areas may or may not be 

 of advantage to the beet-sugar industry, as a whole, and consequently 

 may or may not be beneficial to beet growers residing within those 

 areas. If the acreage in a given area is sufficient to support two 

 mills, for example, the competition in securing acreage for each of 

 these mills may, if properly handled, stimulate the development of 

 the industry in that area. If, on the other hand, a sugar mill is 

 established in a given area having a limited sugar-beet acreage, due 

 regard being had for proper crop rotation, and a second mill is built 

 in the same area the results may be disastrous to both of the mills 

 and may result in retarding or preventing the development of the 

 beet-sugar industry in that localit3^ 



In all lines of business, competition is desirable under certain con- 

 ditions, but in the beet-sugar industry a certain acreage of beets is 

 necessary in order to enable a sugar mill to operate on a profitable 

 basis. If a competing mill draws upon the beet acreage in a given 

 locality to such an extent that the raw material is not sufficient to 

 provide a satisfactory and profitable run for either of the mills, one 

 or both of them must necessarily suspend operations. This result 

 must lead to disappointment and financial loss on the part of those 

 who have invested in the mills, and it deprives the growers of the 

 benefits of sugar-beet production, inasmuch as the closing of the 

 mills must necessarily leave the growers without a market for their 

 product. 



Sugar-beet producing areas may sometimes be extended by bring- 

 ing in lands not previously under cultivation, by the development or 

 extension of suitable means of irrigation, or by instituting or extend- 

 ing a suitable drainage system which will reclaim lands not now 

 under cultivation. In this manner areas that are now capable of 

 supplying but one mill with raw material may eventually be made 

 to supply two or more mills. In all cases the necessary acreage for 

 the maintenance of a mill should be in sight, without injury to exist- 

 ing mills or to local growers, before any money is expended in the 



