Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-07-24
EXPERIMENT IN FEEDING THE
SUGAR BEET.


MEssRs. GAYLORD e. TUCKER-I have
now finished the feeding of some fifty tons of
French sugar beet, and as knowledge OF
the result may be interesting to others, |
am induced to communicate it, should you
think proper to give it place, through the |
medium of your mos, interesting and instruc-
tive periodical.
From the decided fondncss for this root by
hogs, was induced to believe it would make
a very good article on which to feed and win
ter them. SO early procured % hogs and
pigs; five of them put up the 18th of Sep
TENDER, intending TO fatten them, as far as
practicable, with bccts exclusively. | wasl =
cd and boiled the bcets, and fed them profiiso-
~ for two weeks. The hogs dcvourcd them
most ravcnously, but on making careful cx-
animation at the end of this time, to asccr-
tain the progress had made in fattcning
them, learned to my surprise, that they cv-
identity had gained nothng-one large SOW
put on an appearance so wo-begone, that
induced charitable friend to take her of my
hands free srats. | then added peck of
potatoes to bushcl of bects, boiled and
fed them another two weeks, during which
time an improvement had been made, but it
was barely pcrccptible. | now boiled my
beets and potatoes in equal quantities, and
fed one month"; during which time they had
improved, probably about as much as the
potatoes would have improved them alone
| had now satisfied myself that the French
Sugar Beet was not adapted to the purpose
of making pork, so [ stopped the use of it,
and by substituting corn, was induced at
the end of the year, to slaughter some of the
poorest hogs ever killed. This condition
of my hogs, was readily explained for had
lost two of the best months for iattcning them.
had now II hogs left, including two beau
: titul Berkshircs, of full blood, had from my
friend of the Three Hills Farm. As had
provided little else than bects for their sus-
tenance, and as had determined to give the
root full trial, continued to feed them, adj
ding corn and bran as seemed indispensable,
through the winter. This spring have II
left, having lost three during the winter, all
ofwhicf, except the two Bcrkshircs, misera
bly, poor. These Bcrkshircs, without, to
! my knowledge, having Jared better than the
rest, have not apparently suffered at all, but
are in fine condition. | attribute this in
some measure to their domnccring spirit,
and to their greater industry, for they are in
tolerablc monopolisis, and perpetual action.
My cattle, including three mi!ch cows, at
the commencement of winter, were in very
' fine condition, and concluded to give them
!, a proiuson of bects, and restrict them other
wise to the use Of corn fodder and straw. Up
y to the first of February, we had flood of
! very rich and finely favored milk, bat the
t condition OF my whole stock, was evidently a
e bad one; and this spring have miscrably
y lean stock Of cattle. | calculated TO give
: each animal three pccks of bcets per day,
5 which was not often, if at all, neglected. To
, one COW, designed for slaughter, fed some
n forty bushels Of bcets, in thirty days, and
this, withoutmakingany pcrccptibc improve
mcnt in the condition of the animal.
. As was much disappointed in my results,
$ | was led to inquire into the cause; and a
: little consideration | think, seems to explain
r it. Starch, in some combination or other
= with other matter, seems to constitute the
@ most abundant source from which animals
@ derive their flesh; those substances whicl
(; yield it most abundanty, being best adapted
r TO tattcning them. Rice, one of the mos
, nutritios substances of the vegetable world
e yields 50 per cent Of starch; corn, winch is
r scarcely inferior to it in fa,tcning qualities
d gives 70 per cent, whilst potatoes, so vel
: known and so highly appreciated, yield lC
: per cent, and when Invested of their Skin
G and moisture give the surprising quantity Of
81 per cent. AS these substances give yer,
: little else than woody matter, it may be safe.
n ~ inferred that starch consists almost eXclu.
: sivcly the basis Of their nutrive prophecies
v The French Sugar Beet G ives IS per cent. OF
@ water, 10 per cent of sugar, and per cent
/: ofwoody matter and mucillagc, and no starch
: | will not pretend that sugar is destitute O
i nutrtive powers, but that substances abound
Y ing in starch will be found far superior tC
G those containing sugar only. The beet ma,
Y havca Sautary effect on the health of animals
d and when plenty of substantial food is fec
: with ii, it may be productive of good effects
q Its use, however, as an article Of food TO
G feeding animals, must be restricted mostly tc
e that of promoting full flow of rich milk il
v cows, othcrways in good order, and well fed
q lfthe sugar beet should be much cultivate,
II in this country, | suspect it will be for tn,
IT purposes of dstlation. From many expert
c ments, am satisfied that with no other veg
5 ctablc can an acre be cultivated, that vii
!, yield so much spirits.
y Much has been said about cultivating beet
u in this country, for the purpose of maxim
sugar, particularly cultvating them IN tn
C western prarios. To any person contcm
t plating an operation Of this kind, woul
o suggest to him the probable, and perhaps tn
,, insuperabc difficulty of obtaining, only j
/ the immediate vicinity of large towns, s,rc
" quantities of animal carbon, as would be alb
" solutcly necessary for its Qualification.
n Disease among Horned Cattle.
for several years past an epidemic of
re singular nature has prevailed to IA greater o
l. less extent on the continent of Eurouc, ant
he has been gradually progressing westward un
* I'll at the present time its ravagcs are mos
:? extensive and alarming in England. Wheth