The daily gazette., 1877-11-27
MELONS BETTER THAN SUGAR

Sugar from Beets and from Melons-Ans,cers
to Numerous Inqiaries-The Beets IN Cati-
Jornia--M Melons suited TO Dela,Oare and
Ma,yland-A Good Industry.
Correspondence of the BALTIC. SUM-
: SAN Francisco, Nov. ~, 1877. Beet
make the final proof expected. "Will it
pay to make beet sugar ?" is question
that will require another years expert
ence to determine. In one factory the
drought so shriveled and shortened the
crop that the run of work will be too
short for fair testing. In the new mill on
Andrus Isle they have beets for six
months run, but up to November 10 they
had not got into regular work. Breaks
and defects in the mechanism have caus-
ed the interruptions. During the discon-
nected period of work excellent sugar
was made.
But new revelations lead to suspicion
that California is not so we'll adapted TO
beets as was supposed. Four years ago
not blemish was to be seen on a potato
nor on a beet. Now we have to cut
away half Of every patato because of dry
rot. This year, for the first time, exactly
the same disease appears among sugar
beets. They are then worthless. Owners
say that it is confined to ground poisoned
by excessive cropping of grain !; that on
new ground it has not been found this
year. But the probability is that, like
potatoes, it is a crop no longer reliable.
Possibly manure might, by supplying
what the soul has lost, correct the evil.
Regarding Maryland and Delaware, we
are sure that your summer rains give a
great advantage. You have also mineral
fertilizers. But we repeat the advice
which we have for four years given to our
best sugar men:
This is a great country for melons and
poor one for beets. Melons make bet
ter sugar, delicious syrup, and the best
of table oil, (from The seeds.) Half the
capital suffices tor works, and the cost of
manufacture is 40 per cent. less. Losses
from casualties are IS per cent less. Mel
0ns yield rather less sugar per ton, but
more per acre. Watermelons make more
and better sugar than canteloupes. But,
with very few exceptions, sugar from
melons is humid and amorphus. 1t does
not crystalize. In the Western States 1t
Is common for families to make their
own syrup from melons. Any housewife
can make it from any melon by boiling
the pulp down to the approved dem
sity.
In Hungary is large factory, making
rich crystalizable sugar from watermel-
ons. BY examining they found a melon
with white pulp that the polariscope
proved to have crystalized sugar
Doubtless others were found. The works
were at that time making beet sugar, but
ever since the owner has used melons
exclusively. He patented his process,
which must since have been freed by
limitation.
By Christmas our two beet sugaries
may enable us to speak more encourage
ingly, but for the present persons contem :
plating to go into the enterprise in Mary
land and Delaware are advised to postpone
arrangements till more certainly INFORM
ed. However it would be prudent to at
once send to Zombar, In Hungary, and
learn by ocular proofs what we personally
know to certainty, viz: Melons are prefer
able TO beets in that country, and your eli
mate is sufficiently like it TO make II prob
able that melons are best, also for sugar
making in your States and in New Jersey
Whoever goes on such q mission should
know all about beet sugar. In exchange
the melon men will let out all they know
though an expert will find no difficulty
in informing himself. Should it be found
that melons will do we'll in Maryland you
can scarcely over-estimate the value OF
Let 1t be understood that melon sugar is
not liable to be ill-tiavored by imperfect
manufacture. Also, that syrup from beets
Is not edible, while that from melons is
fruity and delicious. Table oil from the
seeds is also superior to olive in every res
pect, especially in preserving Its sweetness.
Assuming that your State is well adapt
ed to waLermelons, we can assure you that
no industry Is superior to melon sugar
making, for giving value to farm lands,
and providing capital rotation of crops.
The refuse rinds, &C.. make excellent cat
tie feed, judiciously intermixed with other
food. The fertilizing power of melon ma
nure from the stable is proverbial in Hun
gary, where gypsum is added to absorb the
ammonia and fix it so as to prevent waste
by evaporation on exposure to the sun and
the wind. This treatment will double the
value of all manures.
Wherever q beet-sugar factory is estab-
lished in Germany the face of the country
is changed for many square miles around.
The tone of society Is elevated. Every
mans property increases largely in value.
On these accounts it Is always easy to form
associations among farmers to establish a
sugarie. To found a sugarie in Maryland,
be 1t for beets or melons, the first public
movement would be to get farmers inter-
ested. If 1t were only as land specula-
tion the increased value of land can be
made to clear all the cost of the sugar
works. s.