THE BEET-SUGAR INDUSTRY IN 1920. 43 
ing are in those localities where the labor is handled by the family 
of the grower. In those localities the beet acreage per farm is usually 
small and the beet labor is not burdensome. This class of labor is 
usually more vitally interested in the success of the crop than other 
kinds of labor, and therefore greater pains are taken to produce and 
l^naintain good stands. 
Comvmunity labor. — By community labor is meant the exchange of 
labor between the beet-growing families in a given community. 
Usually not all the beets in a given community are ready to be 
thinned or harvested at the same time, and since both of these opera- 
tions must be done as promptly as possible when the beets are ready, 
it has been found advantageous for families in the same community 
to use the exchange-labor method in handling this crop. This ex- 
change system is not confined to the beet crop, but is a common prac- 
tice in many localities in carrying on all kinds of farm work which 
needs to be done quickly, such as haying and grain harvesting. 
General labor. — By general labor is meant that labor- which is 
employed by the day, month, or year for the general farm work. 
Transient labor is that part of this labor that comes and goes with- 
out any certainty as to its permanency and with little responsibility 
as to the results of the work. It is seldom used in handling the 
sugar-beet crop, as it is not sufficiently dependable. All farming 
communities are familiar with this kind of labor to a greater or less 
extent. It is unreliable and unsatisfactory, but sometimes enables 
a farmer to get through a temporary rush period without serious 
damage to his crop. On many farms there are monthly or annual 
laborers who take part in all of the farming operations, including 
the sugar-beet work. Usually this class of labor is very satisfactory 
^in the beet fields, and the farmers are fortunate if by the aid of their 
^general helpers they are able to care for the beet crop in addition 
to the other work. 
Contract labor. — This is the most common class of labor employed 
to do the handwork in caring for the sugar-beet crop, and, as the term 
implies, the work is done under contract. The term " contract labor " 
as used in this connection is often misunderstood. It is thought 
by some who are not familiar with beet-growing conditions that the 
so-called beet-labor contracts are decidedly to the advantage of the 
landowner or of the sugar company and that such labor is compelled 
to work under contract. Usually the sugar company has no interest 
in the contract labor except in helping the grower to get his work 
done at the proper time and in the best possible manner. The land- 
owner or beet grower desires a contract, so that he will be sure of the 
necessary help in handling his crop at the proper time, but above 
all the laborers themselves desire a contract which specifies the 
number of acres of beets that a given individual, family, or other 
