But an ideal beet climate would be one that would wet the ground thoroughly in the spring before planting time; then reasonably dry weather so that the roots will reach down to the deeper soil after moisture, thereby making a long beet. Then from about July 15 plenty of water will make heavy tonnage -- the beets growing during this midsummer period of about sixty days. For some days before the beets are barvested there should be a period of warm, sunny weather and this will put the sugar content into them. In rainfall communities there is no control over these factors, but where crops are dependent upon irrigation for moisture there is a measurable control of the conditions desired. Mr. Leavitt and Mr. Geo. W. Holdredge found in Scotts Bluff county soil the essential qualities for beet growing and in the climate they found that which was lacking at Ames. Beets were raised and shipped to Ames where chemical tests were made and found as desired.

Beets were raised at a promised price of five dollars per ton but the factory went broke and paid much less. The demonstration proved that tonnage and content were as anticipated and of such volume and quality that we have sugar factories here. It is by far the largest single industry in the North Platte valley. Four large factories are in the valley and three of them within the limits of Scotts Bluff county. Probably six hundred thousand tons of beets were grown in the county and the farmers received therefor approximately seven million dollars. About two million bags of sugar was the 1920 output. Before the war the average consumption of sugar per capita was about eighty pounds but it has fallen some below that since, owing to the habits and lessons of the war.