The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-05

The CULTURE OF THE BEET AND MANUFACTURES OF
BEET SUGAR; by David Lee Child. Boston; Weeks,
Jordan, & Co.
We have had the valuable little work, Of which
the above is the lille, before several days, and
prefer 10 adop the following notice of the subject
from the Boston Courier, in lieu of of own.
BEET SuGAR-David L. Child, Esq has received
from the Massachusetts Agricultural society, the premi-
Of hundred dollars, offered for the sue
cessiu experiment in the production of Beet sugar.
Mr.. Child has Just published treatise the cultiva-
tion Of the Beet and the manufacture Of the Sugar,
embodyng, we presume the results OF his expert
mental practice well as the facts he obtained from
personal observation, during tour in France Belgium,
and Germany aud from his with culIvators
and manufacturers distinguished for science and
The design Of the treatise is to bring together,
In as small compass compatible with clearness
and precision all that essential to engheu the
judgment and direct the Of American farmers
IN relation TO this new and pleasant branch Of rural
economy. 1t to us, that Mr.. Child has been Pc
cuiarly successful in accomplishing his design, and
commend his book the Of every farmer and
gardener.
The work treats first OF the culture Of the Beet Sc
condy, OF the manufacture Of Sugar, and lastly of the
history and prospects of the business The first and
second parts those, of course which will be the
most practically useful The history. however, which
forms the third part Of the treatise highly
and dscoscs variety OF facts and statements tending
TO encourage this branch Of industry We copy the
following calculation concerning the labor required in
the cultivation Of the Beet
/" In France they allow thirty days work to an acre,
twenty -four Of which days Of women and children
and the wedding mostly done by hand and the hand
hoe Ia the United States, far have hsd expe.
rieuce, has taken from twelve to sixteen days work
10 cultivate OF beets, according the land
more less wecdy. THIS did not include ploughng
narrowing aud cartlng manure, for all Of which add
three days making the whole number fifteen to nineteen
days.
The growth of the cane requires nine months that OF
the beet three to four months. The working days in
nine months are two hundred and ihry-two in four
months one hundred aud three one hundred and three
divided by seventeen, the medium number Of days
quIred for Of beets, gives six acres and frac-
tion over, as the extent which with proper
pemens and horse cultivate with beets one acre
more than nan. though closely driven, cultivate
with sugar canes IN two and quarter times many
days In other words, the culture Of the cane costs
two and two thirds times much as the beet. II we
add TO this fact the other that only half as much pro-
duct IN sugar is obtained from OF canes as from
OF beets, the difference favor OF the latter as
far as culture is concerned, will appear enormous
But It does not end here. The beet culture deepens
and oosens the soil the cane, by its numerous and
spreading roots CT belonging the family OF grasses
binds aud slitiens the soil, leaving it always Ia bad
state for succeeding crop. The cane field requires
following, or rest, two years for every Of bearing
the bee. not only requires iaows buf tscid sub
sute for aloos, and the necessity of them for
other crops. The cane exhausts, the beet fcrzes the
land The cane affords manure except the tops and
blades left the ground the beet besides leaves aud
tops, multplies the barn manure in extraordinary
manner Finally, the beet feeds aud fattens mutndes
Of CATTLE sheep aud swne while the cane affords nothing
for such purpose"
From this, and various other estimates and calcula.
tons Mr. Child supposes that I" Beet Sugar can DO
made in the United States at cost Of four cents a
pound and II so, will be secure IN its erstsnee and
may smile at the efforts Of any competition, though
backed by the cheap hosts OF Hlndostan"
Mr. Child exhibited specimens Of his Sugar. manu-
facmred ~ Northampton, the late Far Of the Mocha
ric Association II this cry, aud received the Societys
SILVER medal Specimens also exhibited 10 several
gentlemen Of the Worcester Agricultural Society, and
the broea was found to be pure very sweet and entire
ly FREQ from any bad taste and its quality, in every re-