The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-09-16
agricultural department.
CONDUCTED BY ALBERT CHAPMAN.
Beet and Beet-Root Sugar.

rent Of America-and of its ultimate
success there can be no doubt, now that
public attention 10 the subject is thor.
oughly aroused-will be dependent upon
two facts
First-The proper selection OF seed
Second--The reducing OF the priDci-
pal product Of the root to such shape
as to render its easy conveyance to the
great centers an easy matter. On this
latter depends the general and universal
cultivation Of the root, and until its
growth becomes general and universal,
the production of the sugar will be con.
fined to few localities more Immediate
ly adapted to its growth and to the easy
manufacture of sugar.
The selection Of the seed is of the first
importanco-of the various kinds of
best bects grown for sugar The roots
may be classified into two varieties, viz :
those which are slightly colored and
those which are white. Each class has
its admirers. The red garden beet is not
used for sugar. La the first instance, and
for number Of years. we shall have to
rely on imported seed from the beet
growing countries of Europe, and there.
fore we shall, IN great measure, be de-
pendent on the character and honesty Of
the seedmen importing from France and
from Germany. Yet there seems to be
no reason why we cannot grow our own
seed when the principles Of producing
are understood
The beet, like every other plant and
production of nature, is susceptible of
great and constant improvement. In its
case, as in all others where plants are
propogated by seed, like has the great
est tendency to like" and therefore we
may rely on it that the roots which are
rich in sugar will produce seed for the
succeeding crop, which will also be rich
in sugar; and by constant and careful
selection, constant, although slow, i'm.
provement may be depended upon. When
the root was first cultivated for sugar, 5
per cent was considered good yield /;
now III per cent. Of sugar in the roots is
oil constant occurrence, and some of the
most favorite kinds are known to pro-
uuce 10 per cent. oil sugar.
The difficulties in the way Of selecting
roots for seed consist in the fact that
each root is perfect plant, and that in
order to insure improvement, each root
which is to be planted for seed must be
tested IN one way or another
Nilmorin the great scotsman of Paris,
was great improver Of the root His
plan was 10 test every root before plant.
lug it for seed. He punched out a small
piece OF the root, reduced it to pulp, OK.
tracted the juice, and, by set Of very
delicate instruments, he ascertained the
specific gravity Of the juice. The roots
which showed great richness were
planted for seed, while those under a Ger.
tain average were rejected the process
did not interfere with the seed-bearing
power Of the root.
BY this means he found that he could
produce roots of even greater richness
than the parent plant, and he followed
out the course for few years, until his
pedigree" roots would in the average
produce double and eventually even
treble the yield of sugar. He thus es.
tablished new kind of beet, which bears
his name, and is now known as the "Vil.
MORN Improved" This root is partially
colored, the skin being pink or reddish,
aud it grows considerably out of the
ground.
Doubtless hundreds of other growers
followed similar, if not the same plans,
and the consequence has been wonder.
full increase in the richness of the root in
sugar.
1t is not to be supposed that the gen.
eral seed.grower will adopt this extreme
course, but the fact of the possibility Of
Improvement being once established each
grower will observe for himself and
adopt his own course, and thus a greater
or less degree ofsuccess and constant i'm.
provement vii! be certain to follow.
OF one thing we may be pretty sure,
namely, that as the entire root increases
in specific gravity 50 will its richness in.
crease, and therefore selection OF the
roots Tor seed becomes a comparatively
easy matter
The following plan may be pursued
Get tub OF water make the water so
thick with sugar that the richest root
will barely sink in the mixture then, as
you dig and wash your roots, try all
those you mean to keep for seed in this
sweetened water. Those which sink sc.
lect for seed those which float reject,
and let them 60 to the mill to be ground
into pul p for sugar
All the roots which you intend for
seed should be again thoroughly washed
50 as to get rid of the medicine in which
they were immersed, and they should
then be carefully stored for setting out
IN the spring to produce seed.
1t Is necessary to make the trial of the
root as soon as dug because, let them be
ever so carefully stored, some roots will
dry more than others, and then those
which dried least, although they might
be poorest in sugar, would show the
greatest specif, gravity, while those
which are richest in sugar might, if too
much dried, show light specific gravity.
There are various other methods by
which those who observe closely will
easily ascertain which of the roots are
richest, and' will thus be able to select,
without so close trial, the most promis-
ing roots.
Inc Tact once ascertained that i'm.
Provement is possible will surely lead to
Improvement being made.
Another great fact must be specially
borne in mind, that the roots which are
intended for seed must not on any &C.
count have their tops cut of. The out.
side leaves should be removed, but the
small heart'leaves should not be removed
or injured, for by so doing you will in.
Jure the future stalk which is to bear the
flowers and seeds.
Il is nlsn iunnrln1lt m nota tLa 10.