THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 139 
ham, speaking from results and experience in Virginia, would in no wise depart from 
the methods that have been best in Europe. 
Beets should never be raised on a large scale by any grower the first year, uniess 
he is willing to spend a large amount of money and does not consider the loss, if any 
occurs. For the average western farmer it would be advisable not to raise more than 
three acres the first vear, and every beet grower should make it his rule to follow 
the advice given by the factory as near as possible, and leave his experiments until 
the second season. 
Look out for the promoter or grower who ‘‘knows it all.’? The more experience 
sensible men have in field or factory, the more they find there is to learn. 
One of the greatest needs in the American sugar industry, is for scientific aud 
practical experts to manage the large number of factories required to produce the 
sugar this country consumes. To supply this need, one or more sugar schools should 
be established by government in connection with sugar factories. It is by such tech- 
nical education that Germany has developed the industry so rapidly and successfully. 
Another great need is more definite knowledge about the culture of beets. Much 
can be done at all of our experiment stations. The various states in which this 
industry is developing should also offer prizes for the best results in beet-sugar cul- 
ture, to the farmers producing them for factories. The prizes should be governed 
not only by yield and quality, but by the intelligence and correctness with which an 
account is given of the methods of culture, expense of pruduction, etc. There is a 
loud call for accurate data on all these points. This book is an effort to supply this 
demand, but circumstances in different sections vary so widely that much must be 
done in each state, and in different parts of each state, to get at exact facts and best 
practice. 
No factory enterprise should expect to make money during its first two years. 
There is always much educational work to perform of a costly nature, although much 
of this work has been done by existing factories. 
A gentleman who has had long and costly experience in this industry and with 
sugar factories writes us privately, regarding tactory enterprises: ‘‘Avoid jumping to 
conclusions; take plenty of time in studying up the question of where to locate, espe- 
cially guarding that which is most important,—an abundant supply of raw material; a 
good supply of water; good fuel, lime rock and coke at a reasonable cost; railroad 
facilities, and where you are to market the product of your factory, making a long- 
time contract with your railroads, on sugar out and material in, especially beets. 
Always select a place where the beets can be grown in the immediate vicinity of the 
factory, and never attempt to build a poor factory, or any at all, unless you have 
abundant capital to see you through the first few years, which are always largely 
experimenta). Secure the best possible talent. A cheap superintendent is one of the 
gravest mistakes. A year can be well spent in investigating before starting such aa 
enterprise. The great thing to be guarded against is, that people who have neither 
money nor experience in the business will become promoters and that factories will 
be put up that must fail.’’ 
We hope there will be no attempt to overdo this business. The over-booming, 
over-promoting and over-financiering of railroads and similar schemes in the west 
