Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-08-14
For tho vERNoNr FARMER
THE CULTIVATION OF THE
SUGAR BEET.

THE CUL LTIVATIoN OF THE
SUGAR BEET.
Approaching this subject with reference
to the great amount that has been said about
the requirements Of a beet.root ct for an
economical manufacture Of beet-sugar, We
have in our readings or observations found
only one case in which result has been OBJ
taiDed at all satisfactory to the cultivator,
and we find this in the last annual report Of
the Massachusetts, Agricultural College, 10
one of a series of experiments with sugar.
beeis by Prof g. A. Goessmann, professor
Of chemistry in that institution The ex.
pertinent was made on farm at Albion,
New York, situated in nearly the same lati-
tude as Bellows Falls. We notice, LIST. that
the soil consisted OF dark reddish brown,
rich, deep, sandy loan. ID, that the crop
Immediately preceding the sugar.beets was
carrots, previous to which clover had been
raised on the land two years. During the
autumn preceding the crop of carrots, twenty
loads Of horse-manure were applied to it.
No further manure was used, which made
the sugar.crop the second crop after the APP
plication of stable-manure. The seed was
planted May sth, 1872, aud the crop har-
vested Nov. 18th. Six specimens Of two
widely different sizes were examined, three
of which weighed from ~ to ii pounds, aud
three but FROM ] to 2 pounds each. These
were tested separately. The juice obtained
from those above 10 pounds measured l4e
Brix at 62e f., aud contained but 81 per
cent Of cane sugar. The juice of the smaller
specimens measured not less than lSo Brix
at 62 f., aud contained l5.l per cent. of
cane sugar, thus showing SO per cent. in fa-
vor Of the smaller roots. We have com.
pared this result with numerous others in
which other modes Of manuring have been
employed, aud can come to no other conclu.
sion than that the fertilizers used were in the
main Objectionable have found that the
sugar-beet is potash plant, and that exper-
iments where fertilizer containing a large
per centage of this substance has been used
have approached more nearly to a satisfac-
tory result. Potash plants generally sue
coed better the second year after manur.
ing with stablo.manure than in the first year
of its application, and we have found also
that highly nitrogenous fertilizers or partly
decayed organic substances, like stable ma
nure, react injuriously on the crop by in
creasing the amount of foreign substances
formed in the juice. In the ius tance stated
we note particularly that the soil, being
sandy loam had favored thorough decom.
position of the stable-manure. aud MS con-
sequence the soil contained at the beginning
of the second year largely the constituents
of the straw, the potash in particular, ready
for assimilation.
We do not present this as 4 rule for cul.
tivation, but because we have found in this
instance result obtained which comes moro
nearly to our desires in illustrating the prop.
er mode of cultivating the sugar.beet. Even
the most carefully conducted field expert
ments are often of merely local value, so it
follows that rules Of cultivation derived from
experiments carried on upon limited area
ought not to serve as base for correspond
ing trials in other locations. 1t is believed
by many in this country as well as in Europe
that cultivating sugar-beet 6t for the eco
nomical manufacture Of sugar can be made
success, aud we believe it can within
the more northern portion OF this continent.
The question is one Of great Importance to
the agricultural world, as it may result in a
closer union between the producer aud the
manufacturer in this country. 1t may be
that this subject and the investigation made
therin will be little appreciated now but We
venture the opinion that at no very distant
day it will be acknowledged as Of the utmost
Importance and value to the agricultural
industry Of New Eogiand. We only pre-
sent what we have written hoping It may
catch the eye OF some who are interested in
agricultural progress and who will expert
ment for themselves. The fast increasing
national importance Of our country, and
its increasing population, will domaud con-
tinually of the agriculturist new develop
ments, new discoveries and new modes of
cultivation. We predict that before another
generation has passed from the earth, both
education and agriculture will have risen
generally in the estimation Of men, and
"happy will bo the boys to-day in college if
they secure in their youth knowledge and
culture enough to keep abreast with the
wonderful progress of the world" Nj.
Waits RiUer, Aug. B.
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