The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-05-09
BEET ROOT AND BEET SUGAR

To the Editor Of the Oh icago Evening Journal
For some time, articles in newspapers
and pamphlets have attracted public at
tention to q business carried on in Europe
with great success, and which, If in,roduc.
ed in this country, would, without any
doubt, increase its commerce, improve its
agriculture, and promote ease among its
farmers by adding very lucrative products
to those which they obtain Mt the present
day from their lands. Unfortunately,
these newspaper articles, like many others,
are tinged with the srevous spirit Of am
pltl.ation. which inspires Mistrust too we'll
justified by experience. They are very
often the work of spectators, who only
seek to try public credulity, or OF theorists
who allow themselves to he drawn away
by deductions more specious than solid
Thus do they place before the farmers
eyes a fine description of tho profits he
could make by cultivatihg tho sugar beet
These descriptions are true, as far as the
keets are concerned; but, whether by de-
sign or w ignorance, they are silent on
the subject OF the real difficulties of that
culture; that is to say, on the studies and
experience which it requires, or the decep
ton which il has set apart for the simple
farmer, who is left to believe that the ac-
climatIzation and saccharine product Of
that kind Of tubercule must he simply
abandoned to the spontaneous action OF
natural vegetation.
On tho other hand-and with truth, we
have no doubt-certain scientific men,
who have learned from books the classifi
cation and analysis Of the different pro
portions of sweet matter which it contains,
etc, etc, seriously give land without hest.
tation) instructions on the mode of its
culture, forgetting that here, as in many
other industrial cases, theory is but an in
complete statement of practice
The person who writes these lines is a
stranger, recently arrived fr3m Europe.
lie had no Intention of establishing HIM
self in this country, but only came as a
tourist, more or less obscrvant, who is as
much pleased IN communicating the no.
tons OF progress which he has gathered
from the countries he has gone through,
as is studying the Improvements which he
observes about him This long sojourn in
European country where the sugar beet
is cultivated and manufactured, has given
him ample occasion TO examine and expe.
riment upon that culture and product.
lie has studied that industry in al its
phases and all its details. and has visited
the principal establishments Of that kind
in Europe Moreover, he presided over
the works of French establishment du
ring all the last season OF manufacture,
initiating himself in all that comprises the
material the mechanism, the characteris-
ties and the working OF bee, sugar manu-
factory. This IS the reason why he can
intelligently argue on that subject and.
as he neither has nor wishes any Interest,
in any enterprise OF that kind, no one has
the right TO consider rs doubtful the sin .
cerity OF the thoughts he expresses. Of the
criticism which he exercises, and OF the
advice which lie gives
Then TO farmers address, these lines
in a less technical style. When PROPOSE
lions are made 10 you 10 determine you to
cultivate the sugar-beet, do not make any
engagements, unless you know that you
will he able to find some one who can give
you proper instructions, and show you
how TO cultivate it-some one who has
cultivated it in different soils and under
different climates-not on a small scale, IS
they have done in tnis county, but on q
large one.
The choice OF seed is one of the principal
points, and requires some experience Its
nativity can be ascertained according 10 the
species of the beet that produces It. Some
Judge it by looking at it, but it requires
still more experience Good seed will pro
duce Ipiddling sized beets, comparatively
heavy and containing much juice whilst
bad seed will produce turhercle covered
with roots or very yolumlnous, thus excit,
ing the admiration of ignorant people, and
containing very little sacclarine substance
Manufacturers do not consent 10 buy the
large beets, because the sugar obtained
from them does not compensate the com.
,.1 iri, 81,
in France. in Belgium and in Prussia some
manufacturers choose none but their own
seed, and sell it TO farmers who will make
an engagement to sell them the products
thereof In some places the farmer who
chooses his seed himself finds difficulty in
selling hi, beets unless he personally pos
ses.es the tact of which we have spoke
above.
The preparation of the soil demands
much care, which varies according to its
nature The principal error winch cab-
net agriculturists" have fallen into, con-
sists i'll recommending processes OF cultiva
ton which give large tubercles Do not
listen to such advice, but at the same time
do not follow the extreme opposite. This
science, which is all practical observation,
is only acquired by experimenting on diff
ferent soils When professor OF asronomy
will tell you to SOW, the man of the field,
who acts de visn, VIII tell you to do the
contrary. His science is not that Of words.
He would find it difficult to xplain to you
why such and such a thing must be done
so and so, but his knowledge has never
failed him
Some writers. thinking that large tnbe,.
cles are the richest in saccharine substance
recommend transplanting as advantageous.
We do not in any way shars in that opin
ion especially on virgin soil, such as the
prairles Of this Western country; on the
contrary, we advise farmers to sow and not
to transplant Sow thinly on poor soil,
and thickly on rich soil.
Every one knows that the beet tends to
grow out of the ground, and that the part
which is exposed to light and air contains
less sugar than part which is beneath the
surface. Farmers have attempted many
remedies for this, and have somewhat sue
ceeded, but all in different ways, according
to the composition and aspect Of the soil,
aud. to the temperature. Here, again, sci
cnce is only acquired BY practice. All
theoretical demonstrations in matters of
industry would lead you to one OF those
alterations into which men with more
speculative than positive minds have fall
lea:
Wedding is an indispensable but easier
operation than is imagined In some cases
weeds may be made useful. Plucking re.
ouires very particular precautions, which
would be too long to- explain.
To conclude, we must Inform farmers
that il sugar mandfactory is established
id this country, and they undertake the
culture of the sugar.beet, and give it all
the care it requires, they will make moro
profit than on any other culture. as long
as the culture, and mandatory IS sn.
perintended by one who is not ignorant of
all the Improvements that have lately
been made IN Europe.