The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-01-05
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

SUCCESSFUL BEET-SUGAR CULTURE
We have always believed in beet-sugar
manufacture in our country, especially
in the West, and that the time would
come when it would be demonstrated
that it was in many respects, for the
farmer and the tradesman, a most valu-
able industry. We have waited for tho
confirmation of these views with "hope
deferred" But it has come at last, and
from Chatsworth, which, with all its
early promise and advantages, had made
such unfruitful returns.
The causes of this disappointment
have been, chiefly, bad location and
foreign management. Constant culti-
vation has removed many of the disad-
vantages of the soil, while the appoint
ment of good Western farmer as head
of the enterprise has substituted prac-
tical common sense for theory. The re-
suit is, that this season there has been
saving in the field work, or the cultiva-
tion of the crop of beets, of nearly
thirty per cent, over the result of the
best German or French culture; the
beets being put into the pit at $2.70 the
ton, as against 81, the lowest price at
the European factories. This has been
accomplished by the use of machine in
place of hand labor, under the super
vision and inventive genius of Mr.. Jona-
than Periam, the superintendent. This
gentleman has other plans in process of
completion that will reduce the expenses
OF this part of the industry perhaps
twenty per cent more. Then, as to the
product of the factory. The first yield
of sugar has been placed upon the Chi
cago market, without brand, that it
might thus secure an impartial test. 1t
was pronounced by the best experts of
the city A l New York sugar, and
readily brought the price of that article.
1t is our conviction, however, that for
complete success elsewhere in this indus
try there must be hearty cooperation
among the farmers of the country ada
cent to the sugar-mill. We believe the
great success of the European mills is
largely due to recognition of this fact.
No other crop has, in its cultivation,
such enriching and preservative quail
ties; and this truth has induced the
small farmers of Europe to aid in all
ways the development of beet culture.
A conviction of this has led the farmers
of Sank county, Wisconsin, and Ingham
county, Michigan, for the past two sea-
sons, to plant the sugar beet, with view
of testing the soil, climate, and other
conditions. A specimen of the beets
from Michigan has been shown us, which
polarized, gives better promise than
those of any other location excepting
the Alvardo Valley yield of California.
Chatsworth, against every obstacle,
has won success. Farmers of the West,
in locations where you have every ad-
vantage of climate, soil, water, etc, i'm
prove the example and opportunity thus
offered, and soon, of the seventy-fve
millions of gold now flowing out of the
country per annum for sugar, we shall
save at least one-half for the develop
ment of our home industries.-N Y.
Tribune.
USES OF ArPLEs.-The apple crop
throughout the Union will probably ex-
ceed that of any previous year since the
culture of fruit assumed its present i'm
portance, and became so widely known,
Not unfrequently certain sections are en-
tirely without apples, even if peaches
and pears are reasonably abundant; but
this year the crop is general in its dis
tribution, and must be very large in its
aggregate.
What can be done with them! Early
fall apples can be gathered and made
barrel, and that barrel turned to vinegar
oughtto bring its owner, within twelve
month after it is ready for sale, at least
80 cents a gallon. Good cider-vinegar
has been worth 60 cents and may reach
that figure again before another apple
year. Some of the miserable compounds
that people call vinegar, and which are
bought and sold for such, cost less in
cash, but are far more expensive to who
soever is beguiled into using them.
Another appropriation your cellar is
not good for making vinegar, or your
neighborhood lacks barrels which can
be bought at a reasonable price-is, to
feed them to the hogs. Our practice has
been to boil them with potatoes, in the
proportion of one bushel of fruit to two
of vegetable, and the stew was not only
palatable, but we believe the apples pos
sessed an actual value not far from 90
cents a bushel. As to winter apples,
they should all be gathered, and with
more care than would be bestowed on a
crop which was small, and, of course,
sure OF ready sale. When there is scare
ity, anything will sell when the supply
is abundant, the best always finds the
readiest market, and the poorest fire.
queutly none. Besides, good apples, well
gathered and well preserved, cannot fail
of finding q aremunerative sale some time
before the next season, if not this fall or
winter. There cannot be an overstock
next June, and if care in gathering and
preserving will give to the fruit-grower
a sure market, then the bestowal of both
is alike the dictate of prudence and
economy.-Hearh and Home