The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-02-13
The Cultivation of the Sugar Beet.

DUBLIN, I'd Mo. 9th, 1880
TO tie EdttOrCt The -EgiS!
DEAR SIR: enclose copies of letters received
by me in relation to the manufacture of sugar
from the beet. They show that the reports of loss
by the factories is overdrawn, and that the pros
pect OF success is as tatering as ever. The first
is my letter of inquiry:
.Hoine Beet Sugar Co., Poytidnd, .Waiae. O'' '''''
Enclosed please find an account of the Beet
sugar Industry. cut from an agricultural paper,
which is not very favorable. AS feel q great in
terest in the beet industry, not only in Maine, but
IN all other sections of our country, take the
liberty to ask you, has the raising of beets and
manufacture of the beet into sugar proved sue
cess this year in Maine?
This last year was the first of our planting in
Maryland, with no prospect of having a market
for the beets;; Part Of the crop was sold at Will
mington, Del, at $3.50 per ton. The quantity
raised per acre has not been large, owing in part
to the season, and not being acquainted with the
have any report published on the beet sugar in
dustry. should be much obliged for the same
Yours, with much respect,
PORTLAND, MAINE January I'D, 1880.
II. u. Mccoy, Esq.,.
DEAR SIR: The statement you send me, "from
an agricultural paper" is untrue in the MAIN
We have made small profit on this years bust
next year. We shall probably make no dividend
on our stock this year, because the cost of our
machinery has exceeded our stock capital and the
profit Will go towards reducing that. We have no
fear of "a total loss" We have made 800 tons of
sugar and molasses. all sold at good prices, for
over SlW,WO We worked 1000 tons of bects into
sugar in 10 days, and expect next year, if we can
get the beets, to work 10000 tons In 90 days, and
make good returns TO stockholders. The only
question is can get the beets. The fault has
been to plant the rows too far apart, and to leave
the beets too close together in the rows. Hence
tho ground has not been more than half covered,
ana the Dects nave been stunted in their growth.
The rule should be:
Rows Is inches apart, Rects inches apart
or or &" II ~
;, The last is the best, but requires hand culture.
For horse culture the first is best. There is no
trouble in rigging up II horse cutiyator to work in
an eighteen inch row Your friend
IL. IL. BLACKWELL, Treasurer.
WILMINGTON, DEL, Jan. 10TH 1880
II. b. MctOy!
ESTEEMED FRIEND: Wchave not vet compet-
ed our experiment for this season. but hope TO do
so within three weeks. But we have made so many
missteps in starting new enterprise, especially
one so entirely new as this is for this country that
we Will hardly have made n satisfactory test, eX-
ccpt in II few points. We have developed that we
can grow the beets and we have dcyeloped that
There is sugar in them; but we cannot probably
indicate this season that there is money in the
manufacture of the sugar from the beet
We Will have to raise good deal of money to
perfect our establishment to the point we desire
To do. But we hope and expect that our stock
holders will go right ahead. In regard to the price
for heets, can only say that if the farmers will
clean them well of dirt, there will be no trouble in
their getting more for them But as to the price
we will pay this coming year, we are not yet ready
To say. Yours, with respect,
ALFRED ID. WARNER,
Treasurer of Delaware Beet Sugar Company.
The last test of beets raised in Hartford county,
was made in baltimore last month, averaged with