Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-06-04

SUGAR FROM CORN AND BEtTS.-A
correspondent, &c. w. Al Berwick,
Illinois, asks this question: Can we.
with the common sorgho evaperator, boi
down the juice of corn stalks and make a
good article of sugar?' We never tried
making sugar from the juice of the corn
stalk, and never SAW any one try it. There
is sugar-canA sugar-in corn stalks,
nevertheless, and we are assured that
Monsieur IeDuc and his aids ut Washing.
ton actually produced good, crystallized
sugar from corn stalks, last fall and that
it WAS accomplished BY means of an old
sorghum mill which Mr.. lie Due found
somewhere in Virginia. We do not
believe, however, that good sugar can br
produced from maize by ordinary processes
in quantities to make it profitable. Ii ii
could, every farmer in the country would
have been manufacturing his own sugar
years ago. There is II statement goin :
round that somebody in Washington has
reported, officially, that newly discover
ed process for doing this business will
soon be made public, that eight hundred
pounds of sugar can he made from an acre
of ground, and that one farmer in Maine
ltDOlltu IL plDlG llOll OhC lClC III wi II
stalks made into sugar, equal to that OF
thirty-five acres in wheat. We take very
little stock in such statements. When the
newly discovered process is made public,
we will give it to our readers, and if il
proves true that eight hundred pounds OF
nice sugar can be made from one acre OF
ground,we shall advocate corn stalk sugar
We haven't much faith in corn stalks or
sorghum, for sugar. If we can't make
sugar probably from beets, we must be
content to buy our sugar. But, somehow,
we have faith in sugar bees. The evil
dence is all in their favor. The success Of
the Maine beet sugar company last year
has given this interest big boost" and
we should not be surprised to see factories
in operation in all the northern states, in
less than five years. New England farm
ers are going into it earnestly. The New
England Homestead of last week announces
that farmers in the vicinity of Northamp-
ton, Connecticut, have pledged themselves
10 raise two hundred and fifty acres Of
beets this year. A Boston man has sent
to Europe for two tons of beet seed, and
the prospect is fair for factory in the
Connecticut valley, this year yet. Steps
are being taken, also, to organize the
business in central Massachusetts, and i
is reported that II factory is now heine
built in the state of New York. Goo,
enough for one year, is it nolo At thi:
rate, we shall soon know whether sugal
can be probably made from beets in lhi
country.
Mr.. Gennert, in his circular recently
published, declares that good sugar beet
cah be raised in every state of the Union
He ought to know, for he has given his ut
tention to this subject for fifteen year
past, both in this country and Europe. Ii
comparing the advantages and disadvan
tages Of the United States and European
countries. us regards this interest, Mr.
Gennert asserts that the odds are Target,
in favor of this country. Among tn,
disadvantages to contend with here, Mr.
Gennert enumerates that OF ignorance il
beet culture, and indeed, of root crop
generally. Farmers do not know how t.
raise them successfully. and hence. whel
they commence to raise beets for factory
they fail,get discouraged, and dcnounce tn
whole thing. We would repeat the advice
given in these columns before, that farm
ers raise beets for feeding TO stock, an,
thus get their hand i'm before bein.
called upon to support II sugar factory
They are profitable for stock-nothn!
more so. The Maine sugar beet company
Portland, Maine, will furnish seed Il
twenty cents per pound TO any who apply
; for it,