Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-10-13
From The Cnlrivator.
BEET SUGAR MANUFACTURE.


Mr.. Child's book on the making Of SUI
gar from beet, derives much of its interest
from the history Of experiments made the
past season at Northampton, to test the
new method of manufacturing by desica-
ton or drying the root before rasping, in
stead Of using it while fresh, as has
been practised. The results appear TO have
been very satisfactory under the circum-
stances; and in the opinion Of Mr.. Childs,
establish the following positions:
81. That all the saccharine contained
in the beet, can be extracted by the meth
cd of desiccation.
go. That the raw sugar can be obtain
ed without any bad taste, and fitfor imme-
date consumption.
SO. That American beets, though gene
rally inferior to the European in saccharine
richness, can by suitable culture, be made
Inferior to none.
"a. That fifty per cent more Of crys-
talizable sugar may be obtained by the
method Of desication, than has generally
been obtained by the method of grating
and pressing or macerating the green beet
"5. That the beet, once dried, may be
kept an infinite time without liability to in
jury"
In the experiments of orchids, he con-
stantly obtained from 10 10 lbs of saccha-
rine, from 100 lbs of fresh beet, or l4lbs.
of dried beet. Owing to some imperfec-
tious in the process, too large a quantity
of the molasses at first resisted all efforts
at crystalization; but these difficulties were
at last overcome, and the sugar was NOT
only Of a beautiful quality, but what little
molasses remained, "was Of bright am
Der color, and SO pure and pleasant, as to
be preferred by many to any but sugar ba-
kers." The actual cost Of sugar made,
when the material has been good, was ii
cents per pound, the pulp and manure, or
cum, not taken into account.
Mr.. Childs also made experiments on the
stalk Of maze or common corn, and On the
pumpkin, and from both obtained good Sd
gar and moasses. We imagine, howev-
er, that the sugar from the corn stalk can.
not be expected any extent, as they must
be gathered before the ear could mature,
and that would occasion serious loss.-
Should it be found on experiment that the
pumpkin could be made to produce sugar
to any considerable extent, it might posi-
bly, be worthy Of culture as an independent
crop for the sake Gifts sugar, and its seeds
for oil, the latter producing at the rate Of
gallon of fine pure oil, to one bushel Of
seeds.
Taking into consideration the facts, that
to those who engaged in it the business was
entirely new; that the beets were procured
at great disadvantage; that the fixtures,
implements, &c. were untried, and after
wards required alteration and Improvement
we think the results such as to warrant
the conclusion that the Northern States can
produce their own sugar at a reasonable
rate, though we have some doubts wheth-
or the opinion Of Mr.. Childs, "that with
proper and sufficient means, beet sugar
may be manufactured in the United States
for four cents per pound" will be speedi-
ly realized. Mr.. Childs' book contains
letter from Mr.. Schuzenbach, brother of
the German artist, who discovered the inn
portant process Of desication, stating that
his brother was still improving his meth
DDS, and had reduced the cost of manufac-
turing considerably below four cents per
pound. This letter gives the nature and
expense of the several items in the process,
and is therefore interesting. On the whole,
Mr. Chids' book will be found valuable to
all who take an interest IN the beet sugar
manufacture, or wish to prosecute il them
selves.
One thing more on this sugar question;
if any Of our readers have three or acres
of permanent pasture, or other lands suit
able for the purpose, and will plant out some
$50 or 200 Of the sugar maple, they will
have lasting resource for a supply of SUI
perior sugar. If the maple orchard is
planted so as 10 break the wind from the
dwelling or the fruit orchard, so much the
better. If you have no land you can con-
veniently spare for such use, plant the
sides of your roads, lanes, or fences, and
you will beautify your farm, as we'll as lay
the foundation of sure ultimate profit
o, but it will be so long before the trees
will be large enough to make sugar from,
may not live to want them or the sugar!
Very true. You may not live the twenty
or thirty years required TO grow good SUI
gar orchard, and it is equally true you may
not live to gather the harvest that is now
ripening. But what if you do not Is
there no one to come after You, who will
bless your memory for this or similar ex-
nmPles of forethought. No man has a
right TO enter the world and leave it, with
out at the same time leaving some proof
that II is the better for his having lived in it.
C0ncfuSire drgument.-Soon after the
Copernlcan system of Astronomy began to
DO generally understood, an old Connect
cut farmer went TO his parson with the fol-