Rocky Mountain Husbandman

AGRICULTURAL

A GREATER interest is being manifested by northern farmers in the production of sugar than ever before. The Chinese sugar cane, so popular during the war, has again come to the front. The object of the farmer seems to be turning more and more towards making the farm self-sustaining. The hard times and low prices of farm products make this necessary. Sugar is a staple and quite as essential as bread, and its production on every farm would greatly increase the luxuries of the farmer's table and reduce the cost of living. Colorado, keeping pace with the Atlantic states, is also introducing sorghum, but Montana, we are sorry to say, can scarcely rely upon this plant. There are sections perhaps where it will mature well, but we seriously doubt if it is ever made a practical success in the territory. But this does not place the means of making our territory self-sustaining in the production of sugar beyond our reach. There is no country in America, perhaps, better adapted to the cultivation of the sugar beet than Montana, and we certainly think there is enterprise enough in some of our agricultural valleys to put up a refinery for making beet sugar. Let some enterprising individual organize a stock company to purchase and put up the necessary machinery, and locate in the midst of some of our most thrifty agricultural districts, and there will be no difficulty in getting a supply of beets. In view of the urgent necessity of our territory becoming self-sustaining in the matter of sugar, will not some one take hold and push such a project through to completion?