40 BULLETIN 995, U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 
equipment on a beet farm is the work stock, which should be suffi- 
cient in number, size, and quality to handle the work readily. For 
the heavy work, such as deep plowing, lifting, and hauling the beets, 
heavy work animals, similar to those shown in Plates II, V, and VI, 
are desirable. Work stock of proper size and quality, therefore, are 
an essential part of the equipment. The horses should be trained 
to follow rows when cultivating. Large animals, properly trained 
and handled, will do this work without injury to the beets and may 
be used unless small animals are available for this purpose. 
Apparently the tractor is taking the place of work animals in some 
localities for many of the operations on sugar-beet farms. A farm 
tractor should be of simple and durable construction, moderate in 
price, easily and cheaply operated, and capable of making fair speed 
when required. 
Animals, in addition to work stock, are essential on the sugar-beet 
farm in order to utilize to the best advantage the beet tops and 
pulp, as well as the feeds grown in rotation with the beets, and also 
to furnish the necessary farmyard manure required to keep up and 
improve the fertility of the soil. The particular kind of stock, 
whether dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep, hogs, or poultry, will depend 
upon the locality, especially with reference to the markets, upon the 
kind of labor obtainable for handling the stock, and upon the other 
farm crops adapted to that particular locality. 
LABOR. 
The question of labor on a beet farm is of vital importance, and 
the lack of labor to handle beets at the proper time will constitute 
a limiting factor in sugar-beet production. Other things being 
equal, the beet grower with sufficient dependable labor of good qual- 
ity at his command will handle the crop to the best advantage. For 
those growers who have not a sufficient amount of labor available for 
the production of sugar beets in addition to the other farm work, 
the sugar companies will usually undertake to obtain laborers. These 
laborers usually are transient, coming into an area at the beginning 
of the growing season, caring for a given acreage of beets during 
that season, and returning to their homes after the beets are har- 
vested. In some instances they go out year after year to work in 
the same locality and for the same farmers. Frequently they rent 
land after a few years of experience and remain in the community 
throughout the year ; such workers sometimes purchase land, thereby 
becoming landowners and employers of labor. The labor imported 
into an area for work in connection with sugar beets is handled under 
contract at a fixed price per acre. Before he leaves his home the 
laborer demands a contract stipulating the acreage that he will be 
