Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-02-07
VOL. XETT-.No. $50
BEET ROOT SUGAR.

offered for the most successful experiment
in the production of Beet Sugar. Mr..
Child has just published a treatise on
the cultivation of the Beet and the man.
ufacturc of the Sugar, cmbodying, we pre-
sume, the result of his own experimental
practice as well as the facts he obtained
from personal observation, during a tour
in France, Belgium and Germany, and
from his intercourse with cultivators and
manufacturers, distinguished for science
and success. The design of the treatise
is to bring together, in as small a compass
as is compatible with clearness and
precision all that seems essential to en-
Tighten the judgement and direct the
measures of American farmers in relation
to this new and pleasant branch of rural
economy. 1t seems to us, that Mr.. Child
has been peculiarly successful in accom-
plishing his design, and we commend his
book to the attention of every farmer and
gardener.
The work treats first of the culture of
the Beet, secondly of the manufacture of
Sugar, and lastly of the history and pros
poets of the business. The first and sec
ond parts are those, of course, which will
be the most practically useful. The his
tory, however, which forms the third part
ofthe treatise, is highly interesting, and
discloses variety of facts and statements,
tending to encourage this branch of in
dustry. We copy the following calcula-
ton concerning the labor required in the
cultivation of the Beet: -
In France they allow thirty days work
to an acre, twcnty-four of which are days
of women and children, and the wedding
is mostly done by hand and the hand hoe.
In the United States, so far as we have
| had nvpnrianrr it has taLan f""", '"'"'''"
to sixteen days work to cultivate an acre
of bects, according as the land was more
or less weedv. This did not include
ploughing, harrowing,and carting manure,
for all which we add three days, making
the whole number fifteen to nineteen
days.
The growing of the cane requires nine
months, that of the beet, three to four.
The working days in nine months, are
two hundred and thirty-two, in four
months one hundred and three; one
hundred and three divided by seventeen,
the medium number of days required for
an acre of bcets, gives six acres and a
fraction over, as the extent which one
man with proper implements and IA horse
can cultivate with bccts; one acre of more
than man, though closely driven, can
cultivate with sugar canes in two and
quarter times as many days. In other
words, the culture of the cane costs two
and two thirds times as much as the beet.
If we add to this fact the other, that on ~
half as much product in sugar is obtained
from an acre of canes, as from an acre OF
beets, the difference in favor of the latter,
as far as culture is concerned, will appear
enormous.
But it does not end here. The beet
culture depends and loosens the soil; the
cane, by its numerous and spreading
roots, Git belonging to the family OF gras-
ses,) binds and stitlcns the soil, leaving it
always IN bad state for succeeding
crop. The cane field requires following,
or rest, two years for every two of bearing,
the beet not only requires no tallows, ont
is ITSELF a substitute for taLows, and
saves the necessity of them for other crops.
The cane cXhauSts, the beet tcrtilaes
the land. The cane affords no manure
except the tops and blades left on tho
ground; the beet, besides leaves and tops,
multiplicS the barn manure in an extra
ordinary manner. Finally, the beet feeds
and fattens mutitudcs of cattle, sheep
and SWINE, while the cane affords nothing
for such purpose.
From this, and various other estimates
and calculations, Mr.. Child supposes that
"Beet Sugar can be made in the Uuited
States at cost of four cents a pound:
and if so, it will be secure IN It's existence,
and may smile at the efforts of any COM
pettor, though backed by the cheap hosts
of Hindoostan.
Mr.. Child exhibited specimens of his
Sugar, manufactured at Northampton, at
the late Fair of the Mechanic Association
in this city, and received the Society's
silver medal. Specimens were also ex-
hibited to several gentlemen of the Wor-
cnrtnr A nrirnlnral SncictN and the brOlpn