THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 1 
cent more than on the same land not having been previously used for beets. Mr 
Lapham ‘‘knows of no industry more needed in the south than this to improve the 
land, while insuring a sure and profitable return to the farmer, and incidentally 
benefiting all classes connected with it.’’ 
In North Carolina, sugar beets have not been tested since ’87-8, when the results 
were discouraging. Director H. B. Battle of the experiment station at Raleigh says: 
‘“‘Should there be a demand for the producc for manufacturing sugar, the cultivation 
could be rapidly and successfully developed.”’ 
In Kentucky, Director M. A. Scovell of the experiment station at Lexington is 
not hopeful of results, owing to the comparatively low sugar content, but H. Cordez 
cultivated three kinds of sugar beets on an alluvial soil in Green River valley, west- 
ern Kentucky, in ’96, which showed 16 to 173 per cent sugar of morethan 80 degrees 
purity, and he is very confident that the crop will thrive over much of this state. 
In Tennessee, Secretary Vanderford of the state experiment station at Knoxville, 
writes: ‘‘I am satisfied that there are areas of considerable extent in all divisions of 
the state, and particularly in west Tennessee, where sugar beets of more than aver- 
age sucrose content and of high purity can be grown at an average cost of $3 per 
ton or less. Under adverse conditions, upon an unsuitable soil on our station farm, 
we have demonstrated that sugar beets can be made profitable in Tennessee.’’ 
The Arkansas station reports having grown sugar beets in three parts of the state 
but the yield and sugar content were varying and unsatisfactory. ‘‘The temperature 
is hardly suitable in this state, except perhaps in the northwestern part,’’ say Direc- 
tor Bennett, but we would suggest more exhaustive inquiry before accepting the ac- 
curacy of this opinion. 
Prof W. C. Stubbs writes: ‘‘It is doubtful whether the sugar beet can be grown 
south of the Ohio river with profit. Our experiments in Louisiana have clearly 
shown that no reliance can be placed on the sugar beet crop in this state. This is due 
to the fact that frequently beets are planted here in the fall and are grown throughout 
the entire winter. It is with us more of a fall and winter crop than a summer crop, 
and since sunshine is needed tu elaborate the sugar, it is rarely that we find beets 
here rich in saccharine matter.’’ , 
No tests are on record as to the adaptability of the soils and climates of northern 
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina to the sugar beet, although it is 
probable that the crop will be widely tested all through these regions. 
In Texas rich beets are raised in the temperate climate of the semi-arid region 
under irrigation, but in the warmer and more humid part cane does better, as beets 
here are poor in sugar. 
Certain practical men, who have had large experience in sugar-beet culture and 
manufacture in this country and who are aiso acquainted with European conditions, 
are strong in the belief that the middle south, meaning especially Virginia, West Vir- 
ginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, will yet prove to be a fine location for the beet sugat 
industry, because of the long season, abundance of sunshine, nearness to market 
and other conditions. 
