The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-02-08
sugar Beet Cultivation.

Tue OlllW IA Z L cOIE NtbIuOu ~
peared in the Ereniny BuNefin:
During my absence in Europe, l assisted in the
growing and working of of an entire sugar beet
crop, from tie preparation of land for the seed TO
the final production of the sugar for market, with
the view of introducing the culture into this State.
The manufacture of sugar from the beet in Eu-
rope. whether we regard its enormous extent or
tie perfection 10 which the process is brought,
must be accepted rs one of the most extraordi-
nary and successful results of modern industry
and skill. i venture to say that few are prepared
10 hear that to-day one third of the entire sugar
consumed in the civilized world is produced from
bcets. Ii l. nevertheless the fact and, more
than this, raw sugars for refining purposes are
shipped from the continent of Europe into Eng
land in large quantities, and there profitably
complete with cane sugars of different grades
imported from English Colonies. The sugar OBJ
tanned from the cane grown in tropical countries
and that obtained in temperate climates from the
beet Is identically the same.
cALIFoRN1A ADVANTAGES FOR SUGAR BEET GROWING.
Actual trials made in past years by myself and
Others. have demonstrated that the sugar beet
miscd m California in favorable localities, secretes
about . per cent. more of the sacctarinc matter
than the same plant grown in Europe. i think |
am warranted, from careful estimates, in stating
that this natural advantage fully effects our higher
rates for labor and capital, and will make the
raising of sugar with us equally Us successful as
it has been IN Europe and what is more 10 the
point in Il practical view, capitalists in Europe
cngigeu III TINS industry form the same cOncluslOn.
and are willing (under certain conditions dictated
by business prudence,) tn embark in the enter
prise in our midst, for the purpose of producing
crude or raw sugars, for sugar refiners' purposes.
The amount of raw sugar used by the four sugar
refineTies of San Francisco il about twelve thou
sand tons per annum, and the capacity of these
refincries Is far in excess of this amount, and of
tie present consumption of the coast. L believe
that if this industry is judiciously prosecuted, in
five wears from this time all the raw sugar now
- -
within the State, Our climate especially flvors
the secretion of saccliarine matter. South of us
il is too dry, and the beet refuses to grow. North
Of us il is too moist and though the beet grows
luxuriantly, il refuses, rs in Oregon, to produce
sugar i'm extractable quantities. So also in Eng
land and Ireland, where immense capitals have
been sunk in abortive attempts TO make sugar
from beets. Climates where the wine grape
grown in the open fields yielding on distillation n
liberal amount of brandy, favor the saccharine
development in the beet. I'll speak of climate
only of course the soils for grapes and bccts
widely diiier.)
ERECTION or RURAL FACTORIES IN CALIFORNIA.
1 arranged, when abroad. an association of
French and German gentlemen of means, and ut
present more or less engaged in producing sugar
In Europe from tine beet, 10 erect in California
rural factories for the production of raw sugars
for rciners' purposes, and to supply the skilled
labor necessary to work them, provided: Tirst,
that the experimental growings of 1868, from
seed they will furnish, confirm the reports I have
given them OF the richness of our beets; second,
that our sugar rciineries will contract with them
for what thCy may make for n term of years, ON n
range of prices rising and falling with cane sugar
in London and New York-or, IN other words,
with the yaiue OF sugar in the great consuming
markets; third, that land owners Tor groups of
farmers Joining t~ogether) will contract to grow
beets round each factory sufficient to keep it
stocked, (abUut 800 acres to each factory is
found a profitable amount), the contracts to be
FOR u term OE years and secured on the land Of the
contractors.
second of thee provisocs, but regre, to say that
NJ % the third, where ] expected but little trouble
l find ut present a good deal-prineiIally arising
from the profitable price for wheat. These gen.
tlemen, who propose to erect and work factories,
viii have nothing to do with the owning of land
Except for mill sitcs) or the raising of beets;
that II MT their business. They will select suit
able land, and in their contracts specify the kind
of bccts required. They will also import seed to
sell Ia the contractors, and furnish them with full
instruction ~ to the mode of culture which in
EurOpc has proved the most successful, beyond
this they will not engage IN agriculture, but will
receive the bccts nj the factory door. and pay for
them a price which will rise and fall from year To
year with the price of sugar. They are guided
by European experiencc-there, there are sugar
factories dat own land and others which merely
contract for crops the latter are the most sue
e%essful. Ii seems reasonable that II division of
triucS SlOulu iclI 10 greater eAltrtnceS III eacn,
and consequently greater profit for both. Prob
ably some large ranch owners may see an advant-
age in deyOting the requisite land to this enter
prise. lt requires, 1t Is true, n considerable
expenditure To bring untitled land into the condi-
lion of tillasc requisite for this crop, and after
that, tire use of considerable capital properly TO
work tic crop from the ploughing to the delivery
of the roots to the factory; but | estimate, taking
labor and capital at our present rates, and sugar
at the average of the last ten years in London and
New York, u beet producer could safely rely on
as good n return rs wheat Mt two cents per pound
will yield, and what is of great Importance, u
sure market ut his own door. /
LOCATION OF SUGAR FACToRrEs-IHE FIRST STEP.
\ god location for n single sugar factory COM
priscs the following requisites lst. For the
beets a friablc, easily worked loamy soil, free
frum bog and swamp and from sal; or alkali, and
from ! ,2UO to | 800 acres in extent. 2d. For the
factory itself Il good stream of water (say enough
u ill an eight-inch pipe under n six-loot head),
and fuc, and limestone in the neighborhood, and
cheaply procurable. Sd. Cheap access for pro-
ducc to san FranciscO. Spring rains are import
ant to this crop. Land living westerly of a
mountain range would on that account be prefer
able. \ firm, solid beet, from three to FIVE
pounds in weight, is required for making sugar.
\ large spOngy beet is worthless for this purpose.
The first thing 10 be done to give a practical shape
to this matter is to put in seed this coming sea-
ron, III various localities, to prove the saccharine
richness of the crop. | will furnish in season.
on being written to, seed and Instructions to
ranch owners or groups of farmers who have
locations answering TO the above requirements,
80 that they may plant n few rows, which will be
worked up IN the fall of 1868 in San Francisco
by the agent of the European Company. The
result will furnish a fair test. Ii the trials
answer. and Al good location is offered, in 1869 n
crop will he contracted for and a factory erected.
If that answers. in succeeding years as many loca-
tions will be taken under contract and factories
erected as the demand for sugar by the rcfnesies
will warrant The enternrise. OoinO little by