CHAPTER VII 
CONTRACTS FOR RAISING BEETS 
Ir seems desirable both for the sugar company and for 
the farmer to have a contract on the raising of beets signed, 
before the crop is planted. The farmer would have no 
market for the crop of beets if the sugar company did not 
buy them. He might feed a few to stock, but on the 
ordinary beet farm only a comparatively small number 
could be used in this way. He should be sure, therefore, 
before planting the crop, that the sugar company will 
take it; otherwise, he runs the risk of a heavy loss. Like- 
wise, the sugar company needs to know early in the sea- 
son the approximate tonnage of beets that it will have to 
slice in order that necessary equipment and supplies may 
be secured. These conditions have led to the universal 
practice of contracting in advance all beets that are raised 
for the factory. 
ADVANTAGES OF CONTRACTING 
Farming is one of the most uncertain of all businesses. 
This is partly because of the irregularities in prices. One 
year potatoes or hogs will be high and the farmer thinks 
he should produce more of these commodities; but by the 
time he has a large number of potatoes or hogs to sell, the 
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