The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-04-16
sgritnItaral.
The Rise Ia Sugar.

The Rise Ia Sugar.
The late rise in sugar ought to suggest
n lesson to us as people. IL shows us
how wholly we are dependent upon other
countries for supply of this great sta
pie.
We use in the United States upwards OF
four hundred thousand tons of sugar yearly
three hundred and fifty thousand tons OF
which are Imported. THERE'S ut present
no lessening of the supply, but the bare
possibility of next seasons supply OF
sugar from Cuba being cut of on account
of the troubles in that Island, is sufficient
to send up the price % percent. In sim
gle week. If the prospect of continued
war In Cuba should be realized, the price
OF sugars is likely to be still more largely
increased, and in case of the cessation Of
our foreign commerce, should we become
involved In war with any foreign power,
nearly our whole supply would be cut OIL,
and prices must advance wholly beyond
the reach of all but the healthy classes.
This would be national calamity great
CIR than the loss OF any other single arti.
Gle of importation. 1t would affect every
citizen.
We know of but one way to insure our
selves against such possibility, and that
is to raise our own sugars. This we are
abuudantly able to do. We do not refer
now to our capacity for the production Of
cane sugar, but to our far greater capac-
ity for the production of sugar from the
Sugar Beet.
In a recent complete and valuable work
on Farm management, farm crops, &C.,
Centitled-"How to make the Farm Pay"
and published by Zeigler, McCurdy q
Co., of Philadelphia and ChicaSoo Is a
most excellent chapter on the cultivation
and management of beets for sugar, from
which we make the following extract:
.rhe production of beet sugar, through
out the world, Is now about six hundred
and lifty thousand tons, or one-fourth of
the whole production of sugar. We have
millions of acres adapted to the cultiva-
ton Of the sugar beet. We have the best
labor saving machinery of any country on
the globe, and there Is no good reason
why we should not produce million tons
of sugar annually within ten years. In
accordance with the practical aim of this
work, we shall endeavor to show that 1t
Is to our pecuniary, and especially to our
agricultural interests, tn do so.
The cost of raising the beet cannot,
under judlclous cultivation, exceed three
dollars per ton, and We think that they
can be. raised for two dollars per ton.
But taking the highest estimate, of three
dollars per ton, there Is LEFT a large mar
gin for profit, as one ton OF beets will
yield from one hundred and forty to one
hundred and eighty pounds Of refined
sugas; about fifty pounds OF molasses
suitable for distillation; five hundred
pounds of leaves, an excellent green fod-
der; aud five hundred pounds of pulp,
worth one third rs much as good hay.
But this Is not all; the beet crop cleans
and prepares the soil; and, In n rotation,
Is one Of the best preceders of any grain
crop. The yield of beets, per acre, varies
from seventeen TO forty-two tons. We
think that, with our improved methods,
an average yield of thirty tons per acre
can readily be secured, but taking the
low average yield oftwenty tons per acre,
at i've dollars per ton, Is one hundred dol
lars; deducting the highest estimate of
the cost of production, three dollars per
ton. leaves forty dollars per acre clear
profit to the farmer. Considering the
probability of yield Of thirty tons per
acre, costing two dollars per ton, we have
the possibility Of profit OF ninety dollars
per acre.
There arc, Mt present, but few manu-
factories of beet sugar In this country, but
they would spring up on every side, II
farmers once determined TO raise the
crops, and made that determination
known. Communities settling on the
rich soils of the west and south. have this
matter In their hands, as have also the
farmers In the older states. Let n dozen
farmers, In any section Of the country,
agree with some capitalist TO supply him
with beets, and a market viii be at once
created. IL Is for farmers to agitatc this
matter, In their daily conversation, In
their visits to the city markets, In farmers
clubs, and through the columns Of their
chosen agricultural journals. The manu-
facture must be exceedingly profitable.
II Is carried on from September to March,
period when labor Is easily commanded.
1t will employ the extra farm laborers,
Mt season when their services arc not
required on the farm; thus incidentally
comforting permanent benefit upon
every community, where such an industry
Is established