GROWING SUGAR BEETS IN MICHIGAN AND OHIO. 35 



The cost per acre for materials was the same at Alma and Grand 

 Rapids, but was very much lower in northwestern Ohio. The small 

 amounts of manure and fertilizer applied result in this low total 

 charge per acre. Reduced to a ton basis the costs do not vary appre- 

 ciably except in northwestern Ohio, where this item is approximately 

 50 per cent of the charge in the other groups. 



MANURE. 



From 6 to 22 per cent of the beet acreage received an application 

 of manure. The smallest percentage manured occurred in north- 

 western Ohio and the largest at Grand Rapids. In the former area 

 a number of growers turned under a clover sod, thus adding green 

 manure to the land ; consequently the cash charge in this district for 

 farm manure is smaller. At Grand Rapids the dairy farms supply 

 an adequate amount of farm manure. Comparing the acres in beets 

 manured per farm, there is not a wide variation. At Grand Rapids 

 1.41 acres per farm received an application, and in northwestern 

 Ohio 0.89. 



The greatest cost per acre for manure was in the Alma area. Here, 

 too, the application was the largest (14.3 tons), and the highest 

 estimated value per ton ($1.10) was recorded. The rate of applica- 

 tion and the estimated value per ton were essentially the same at 

 Caro and Grand Rapids. However, since the acreage per farm was 

 greater in the former than in the latter, the cost at Grand Rapids 

 was 78 cents higher than in the Caro region. 



Northwestern Ohio had the largest acreage in beets and the small- 

 est area receiving an application of manure. Consequently the lowest 

 charge for manure occurs in this- district. 



FERTILIZER. 



In order to insure the beet plant a rapid and luxuriant growth it is 

 the general practice in the areas studied to apply commercial fer- 

 tilizers. The northwestern Ohio growers put on more fertilizer per 

 acre than any of the other groups, averaging 171 pounds, but they 

 paid about $3 less per ton than the Caro or Alma farmers, and $2 

 less than the Grand Rapids growers. However, only one-third of 

 the beet acreage in the former area received an application of fer- 

 tilizer, while 80 per cent of the Caro, 48 per cent of the Alma, and 

 73 per cent of the Grand Rapids acreage was so treated. 



SEED. 



Beet seed was purchased from the sugar factory at a cost of 15 

 cents per pound. The factory advises the farmer to sow 15 pounds 

 per acre, thus making the cost of the seed $2.25 per acre. The seed is 

 advanced to the farmer and its value is deducted from the money 



