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Show Sugar Beet, Versus Wheat Growing Grow-ing in the Bear River Valley. By Hon. John P.Holmgron. It Is a very difficult matter to lay down general directions for growing sugar beets, applicable to alf localities aud conditions. In beet growing tho principal factor Is to have fertile soil, well stored with humus, and nbovo all an intelligent thoughtful farmer, who will take advantage of all favorable conditions con-ditions and give careful and proper culti vation to tho crop. A comparison of the results of growing sugar beets with that of growing grain undurslmllar conditions might be instructive to the many readers of the Dcaoret Farmer. During tho season just closing wo harvested har-vested on our farm 60 acres of sugar beets, which havo averaged us 10 tons per acre. Some of this land has been planted to beets for the fourth season, and did not therefore respond with as much tonnage as other portions of the field, which has been cropped but two seasons. I have kept u careful record of my expense account and find that the cx penso of growing a crop of beets aro at follows: Plowing per acre . 1.50 2 harrowlngs at 15c ..................... ... .80 1 floating at 40 Seeding .. ... .. 8.75 First thinning 8.00 Second thinning. .... 2.00 Ono weeding ... 1.00 Fivo bono cultivations at 50o......... 2.50 Four Irrigations at 60c 2.00 Digging tho beets .. . 1.25 Water rental per acre ... 1.00 Fertilizers (barn yard manure).......... 10.00 Taxes per acre ..... .65 Topping 10 tons at 60c 9.50 Hauling 10 tons at 65c ... . .. 12.65 Making a total of 158.60 And nineteen tons at 1 4 50 per ton brought me 165.50, making a net profit nt (32 per acre; or au income ot $1,920 from tho 60 acres of beets. I havo also grown wheat and placed the expense of wheat growing as follows: Plowing per acre .......II 25 Two harrowlngs at 15c. ... .80 One floating . .40 Drilling .40 Seed ,60 Two Irrigations 1.26 Harvesting 1.25 Threshing (80 bu. at 5c per bu) 1.60 A total expense of .......... 114.00 From this I secured 80 bushels which averaged mc ftOo per bushel, or 915, making mak-ing a net profit of 00c per aero. To tho abovo however, should be ndded to tho expenso of growing beets, the value of tho extra physical and mental strain, not found in growing wheat'. In conclusion I desire to say that a number of my neighbors, Easmus Hansen, Han-sen, Antono Chrlatenscn, Moroni Morten-son Morten-son and Olof Jensen, all are extensive beet growers and In my conversation with thorn I flud that they have arrived at practically the same conclusion as hure-In hure-In set forth. Duscret Farmer, |