Smyrna times., 1879-03-05
GBe Smprna Gimes.
Smyrna, DeI.,
Wednesday Afternoon, March S.
a,g2'lcWL11t1'uI.
Sugar from Beets.

| was gratifed the other day at recciv |
ing call from Theodore Gennert, who will |
be long known in connection with the pro |
ductlon OF beet-sugar as the pioneer in what
will surely be prominent industry in this |
country in the near future. ! am almost
afraid to think how many years ago it was
that first made his acquaintance in the
sugar-house at ChatswOrth, Illinois; and
yet what seemed then to promise speedy
success and even wealth to those who were
engaged in it, is to-day but little nearer, ap-
parently, to that realization. Mr. Gennert
is now in Maine, and as enthusiastic rs
ever on this subject perceive Il change
in his tone, however, that indicates the
wisdom of dear bought experience. AT
Chatsworth, 10 years ago, we talked of
sugar and of beef. Now we talk of beet and
of sugar. At the West, when corn was
liable to be Is to 20 cents bushel, and
where it was universally regarded as better
feed for becves than roots in any form, the
great bulk of the nutritive portion of the
crop was lost. At the East it is not so. 1t
will pay here to raise sugarbcpts simrly AS
feed. The sugar which the roots contain
| in their natural state makes them palatablc,
| indeed, and is fattening, but it can be en-.
tircly withdrawn without seriously lessen
ing their nntritive qualities as feed for beef
cattle or store cattle. The residue after
the sugar is extracted is highly relished by
cattle, and may be fed to them freely. SO
that those who can feed it, really have what
ever they realize, on account Of the sugar,
as clear gain. Beet-suEar production de-
pends absolutely, from an economical stand
point, upon the complete consumption by
animals of the pulp or residue.
Now we find it profitable to raise those
| nf tap Il
wurzels, simply for cattle feed. 1t has been
over and over again demonstrated that
German sugar-beets produce fully as much
digestlbe and nutritious food to the acre
as mangels, and yet the latter are such an
attractive crop that we keep on raising
them. If we could take them to the mill
and have them nicely puiped for nothing
and be well paid into the bargain-the
miller paying for the privilege, and re
turning to US the whole amount Of nutritivC
matter in the bccts-we would not hest
tate long, but set about arranging for rails
ing the roots, and having cattle enough tC
consume the pulp. This is, as understand
it, exactly what beet-sugar production offer
to the Northern, and especially Eastern
farmers. 1t takes this form, however-the
sugar mill buys the beets and the becffeed
er buys tho pulp. When the beet. grower
and the beeffeeder are the Same person
then the above proposition is realized
namely, the sugar-mill pays the farmer fo
the privilege of pulping, and he gets h
his own product returned, less sugar Tn,
only reason why sugar-mill in any gooc
farming community is not sure to be sue
cuss, is, that so few people have found ou
how much more profitable it is to raise root
than corn for feeding purposes. Ever
:
the principal value of mangels is to max
root.rais.ng popular, and to introduce tn
sugar-beet as a general farm crop.
MANGELs AS CROP.
!, am hardly willing to cast the slur upoi
d mangels which might be implied from wha
have written; they have several charaC
tcristics which make them favorites, an
probably this will always be the case. TIL
= fact they are enormously bulky and heavy
m in proportion to nutriment they contain,
overlooked by the farmer in his Joy &
harvesting such noble crops. Sugar beet
are set deeply in the soil. Mangels gro
largely upon the surface, and may be ha
: vested without digging, plowing, or an
trouble but loading into wagons. Thi
with me, has made all the difierenC
between saving the crop in good order, an
having i: frosted.
The enormous quantities of roots whic
a sugar mill must have to extract the sug;
from, in order to do profitable busines
IL makes it necessary that beet growing shou
n be very general throughout any distric
n before sugar production will pay. Th
great production Of beets necessitates Il
feeding of great many cattle, hence mo
manure, more crops Of all kinds, and
higher grade of farming in all respects
From the Americup Agriculhrist for March.