The Democratic advocate., 1872-03-09
Our 0liu.
SUGAR.

We have received copyof an address
delivered by President W s Clark, OF
tho Massachusetts Agricultural Col
lege, at Amherst, on the subject OF
raising beets for the manufacture Of su
gar. The address contains interesting
aud valuable statistics besides demon.
stration Of the practicability of the
manufacture in this country. Numer.
Gus fine samples of beet sugar from
France, Wisconsin,, Illinois and the
Agricultural Colleges were exhibited.
President Clark said: We already
pay more for sugar than for bread aud
among the wealthier classes in some
cities their sugar costs four times as
much as their -four. Last year, the
people of this country paid more than
sl00,O00,000 for imported sugar. The
total demand of the world requires mere
than three million tons and the con
sumption is rapidly increasing Three
times as much sugar is consumed 10
Germany and Russia now rs in 1850.
The principal sources Of this indispen.
sable substance are, sugar cane (64 per
cent. sugar beet, ESQ per cent palms
% per cent. } and naples q per cent.
The different varieties Of sugar were
then described and their curious rela
tions to gum, starch aud wood pointed
out. The method of making grape su-
gar as a chemical product was explain.
ed, aud the possibility of producing
cane sugar in the laboratory affirmed.
This subject is now a prize problem of
the French Academy.
The history Of sugar was briefly given
from the time when it was employed 10
medicine under the name Indian Salt
The Moors brought sugar cane into
Spain in TIA, and the Spaniards car
ried it to St. Domingo in the year 1900.
The sugar imported into Great Britain,
in 100, was 10000 tons, and in 1870.
GOO, 900 tons Sugar from beeis was
first obtained By Prussiau chemist in
l747, and shown to be identical in all
respects with that from the cane. Lit.
tie attention was given to the fact until
about the year 1900, when another
Prussian, Achard, started small factory
under the auspices OF the government in
Silesia. He published an interesting
pamphlet on the matter and predicted
ultimate success, but nothing more was
done in Germany for many years. Ma,
poleon LIST, however, offered prize OF
one million francs for an economical
method Of making sugar from plants
grown in France. In 1910, a process
was devised BY Chaptal which enabled
him to produce sugar from the beet at
thirty cents per pound. As colonial
sugar then cost more than one dollar
pound, the result was quite satisfactory
and the business received great impe.
tus. In 1871, France produced 300 900
tons OF beet sugar at a cost Of about
four cents per pound The cash value
OF beet products 10 FRANCE last year was
fifty millions Of dollars, and those dis
tricts which produce the sugar, produce
also more bread and beef than any 9th.
ers, and vastly more than they did be.
fore the Introduction Of this industry.
The history of this industry in the
various countries Of Earope and in the
United States was given, and all the
so-called failures detailed and accounted
for The conclusion was that it was a
most hourishing business in all places
where fairly tested; that it was profita
bic TO the sugar manufacturer, to the dis.
tiller, to the land owner aud to the
laborer, aud last but not least, to the
government, which received, in 1870
in France, sic, 900, 900 revenue from
the taxes on sugar and alcohol.
The experiments made at the College
nuder the supervision Of Prof. Gess.
mann during the past two years, we're
cited to show that the sugar beet grows
as well aud of as good quality IN the
valley of the Connecticut as 10 any dis
trict Of Europe. Very fine yellow su.
gar now worth nine cents per pound
can be produced for seven, and fine
granulated sugar for ten cents.