Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-03-31
Sugar.

Sugar.
We have had very coed run of sap,
and now thoughts of all farmers "are on
sweets INTENT" and perhaps now is as
fitting time as any to give this industry
some attention.
We are a very sweet or very sour peo-
pie, as we may look at it, for it takes
about forty pounds of sugar per head,
man woman and child, to supply our
want for this delicious material, amounting
to more than one billion, eight hundred
millions pounds of sugar and about forty
four millions gallons of molasses. OF
this amount we produced at home two
hundred and fifty millions pounds of sugar,
and fifteen millions gallons of moasses,
to which should perhaps be added our
maple sugar crop--a drop in the bucket
of only about thirty millions of pounds.
The consumption of sugar is increasing
faster than IFS production, hence an in
crease of price, which our markets show
Ohi JiVid vi SuIitI IL So Sill Ill ana
its character SO peculiar that it will no, at
all affect the general market, nor will an
increased production of other sugars ma
terially affect its price. Except to us who
make and use it (and many who make
large quantities of maple sugar consume
much cane sugar, selling the maple), it is
and must continue an article of luxury,
and as such bear its price.
While we have been such large consum-
ers of imported sugars, some other coun-
tries, France notably so, with IL soil of no
greater fertility and II climtte no more
favorable than ours, is exporting largely.
10 be sure, her population consume les
than ours, but it is not in this fact the
difference lies, but in her increased pro-
duction, and this is not from cane, but is
of
BEET SUGAR,
an industry which has come to enormous
proportions there with their careful sys-
TEN of husbanlry.
The manufacture of beet sugar has been
attempted in this country-in California,
Illinois, Wisconsin and Maine-and with |
the exception of the last named, which |
was started last year, have all faled-not |
from the inability to make sugar, but from
inability to produce it ut II profit.
Perhaps the most extensive and costly
experiment in beet sugar making in this
country was at Chatsworth, HIS, under
the management of Mr.. TIL. Ernest Cen
merit, a most enthusiastic champion of beet
sugar in this country, and who has in
charge the experiment in Maine started
last year, and which we believe was
moderately Il success.
But we believe our system of cultivation
will have TO undergo important changes
before the raising of bcets for sugar, TO
anysgreat extent, will prove successful,
and our supply of sweets must be sought
in other directions.
As long ago as 1856 seeds of tine
CHINESE SUGAR CANE
were imported and widely distributed, and
great expectations were had of it, bat all
attempts to make IL understandable sugar
failed, and the syrup had a strong and I'M
pleasant flavor which would prevent any
general use, and so it had become settled
opinion with scientists, linanciers and DO
litical economists that our sources of sup-
ply of domestic sugar were only from the
tropical sugar cane, and the limited
amount which might be secured from the
maple.
The production of sugar from tropical
cane is confined to Il narrow belt of coun-
try bordering the gulf of Mexico, and |
which produces an average amount of
one thousand six hundred pounds per
acre, which has become the average of
the production of the last twenty wears,
and the amount made from this source in
1873 was only about two hundred and fifty
millions of rounds-the highest point OF
production reached since the commence
ment of the war, though the yield in 1861
was five hundred and twenty eight mill
ions pounds, or more than double that of
1873, and nearly half Of what we then
consumed.
The results of the war were most dsas-
trous to this industry. Depleted finances,
broken levees, uncertain and insufficient
labor, and the ruinous policy which dis
courages the investment of northern capi-
tai and enterprise will for mpny years to
come prevent IN increase of production
here which will exert any material inAu-
ence on our supply of domestic sugar. 1t
is quite clear then, that if we are to make
any considerable progress in "home pro.
duction," we must seek for
OTHER SOURCES OF SUPPLY
for our sweet.
AS having most important bearing on
this subject, the experiments of Prof
Peter Collier Chemist of the department
of agriculture), the past year, are of great
interest and importance, as well as the
practical tests of others, mainly important
in having apparently solved the question of
making good merchantabe sugar from
sorghum, and from what WAS probably
new to most of US, common field corn.
In tie matter Of sorghum the secret of
previous failures in making sugar seems
to have been the cutting of the stalks in an
immature state, and in this matter the ex-
periments of Prof Collier seem conclu.
sive. The following record of these ex.
periments will be interesting. The re-
suits are as follows: