Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1842-04-26

munity, the business of making our own street
from the beet root, will eventually succeed here 2
All that seems to be lacking to ensure success, is
knowledge of the art of refining sugar.
But let us look at the subject in another point of
view. The culture of the sugar beet, setting the
manufacture OF sugar from it aside, is very prof
liable business. 1t is a very valuable root for cat
tie and sheep, and some say that swine will thrive
very well on it. The use of the beet as feed for
mich cows, it is said, increases the ouantitv. and
produces a great improvement in the quality ofthe
milk. Mr.. Ezekiel Rhodes, relating his own ex.
p%erience, says Within one week after nv SUI
gar beet was exhausted, the butter from the the 8
cows was reduced from 20 to Ia lbs. per week.
My butter was in much higher repute while fed on
the sugar beet than ii had ever before been during
the winter Another SAYS 1T the sugar beet,
makes the finest wool, the most Juicy and delicate
meat, the largest quantities and richest ofmiIk and
butter in winter, not inferior TO that produced from
the sweetest pastures in summer. When not
grown too large it also ranks high among the Ia
BILE edibles, and is perhaps the most lucious and
palatable OF roots to the taste of man. Being then
the largest of the y%ielders, the most certain crops.
the easiest handled, secured, and fed, and above
all; a great ameliorator Of the soil on which it is
grown, we think W. are not over sanguine when
we assert, that IN a very few years its cultivation
will become so extended, as to make it the largest
and most valuable of our root productions.
-Four years since, | obtained a quantity Of the
seed OF the French Sugar Beet, and put in an acre
by way of experiment, not in the way of making
sugar, but the making offdt This first trial fix,
ed me. My cows, sheep, and hogs, were very fond
Of them, during the long and severe winter which
followed. They all kept in good heart and con-
dltlon what surprised me most was the rapid
manner, my sheep fed on the sugar beet, took on
fat ,aknA rr, - II - s.
particular attention, from their superior appearance
But it was not III appearance only, the most was of
much better quality, more juciy, and exec, dinghy
tender. The inquiry was, why, sir. on what do
you fattcn your sheep?' And when | replied, on
sugar beet, hay, and a small portion of corn, it
would generally call forth an exclamation ofsur-
prise. Ever since | have been a grower ofthe
sugar beet, the meat | take to market is always in
demand, and brings several cents more per pound.
than that fattened in the old way. have
been benettted to the extent of several hundred
dollars by the introduction ofthis root, and though
many stand lockers on, hating between two opin.
ions; OF one thing you may be assured, that the
time Is not tar distant, when every extensive stock
feeder, will be an extensive root grower.
The sugar beet yields largely-6OO bushels
from an acre is not a large crop; 1000, 1900, and
IN some instances, where the land was in a high
state OF cultivation, 1000, and 1000 bushels, have
been gathered from an acre, in this country. MIR.
John Fcnno of Chelsea, in the year 1888, raised,
from 81 square rods of ground, 9S6 bushels sugar
beet, and AZ bushels ruta baga turnips, which is at
the rate Of more than 1000 bushels to the acre.
Ihss ' IA extraordinary yield, it is true, but in
stances, on record, are numerous, where IL tol60O
bushels have been grown on and acre. Some who
have cultivated the beet extensively, estimate the
cost OF raising 10 be s cts. others say not above 4cts
per bushel. A piece of ground that will Weld 40
bushels of corn, with suitable care and attention,
will produce 600 bushels of beets, with but little if
any difference in the cost of cultivation. 1t is the
opinion OF those who have tested their value, that
from three TO four bushels of bcets, fed with hay,
VIII go as far IN sustaining or fattening cattle, as
one OF corn. But allowing 5 objects to be equal
to one OF corn, we have, from a given piece ofland
three times the value in beets, as feed for cattle, that
we do IN corn, with this advantage in favor of the
beet, that 1t leaves the soil on which it grew in bet
ter condition for a succeeding crop than corn
And roots fed with dry hay, are said to be much
more Tor the health of animals than grain. So it
would seem tc be very much for the advantage of
to raise the beet instead of corn for their
cattle.
Many prefer the sugar beet to the ruta bapa
for though the yield is nearly the same, and the
cost of cultivation the same, it is a more sure crop.
not being liable, like the turnip, to be DESTROYED
by insects when small and when fed to COWS the
beet does not impart any unpleasant flavor to the
milk or butter, one objection urged against the
ip.
So farmers can sustain no loss in embarkinp in
the culture of the sugar beet, even on an extensive
scale; for if the business of making sugar from it
not succeed in this country, it will be found
rich treasure to be converted into butter, cheese
and fat or as a saving ofhay, in sustaining cattle
during the protracted and tedious winters of this
climate.
Take hold of this branch of Agriculture, broth
er %foffncrs, and if rightly managed, it is quite GER
tam that the result will prove satisfactory. Pro-
cure seed of the right sort,--which is the white
trench-and if you please, on a small
garden spot, and when the roots are grown, and
before hard frosts, select a few of the most hand
some for seed In this way the value of the beet
will be proved before cost of any amount has been
incurred, and plenty of seed will be obtained, at a
tritllng cost, to plant acres, if desirable. None.
no ever, need be deferred from commencing the
culture OF this plant extensively, by fear of loss =
Some, it is true, who have cultivated it, have ex-
pressed themselves disappointed, and have aban-
M ny on ~ nc