Daily Republican., 1881-03-09
TnlRD cDiTiON.
the SUGAR BEEx.

a
In growing Sugar Beets, At the
Clay son House.
A few days ago George W. Stone,
Secretary Of the Delaware Beet Sugar
Company, sent ont quite large mum
Der of notices to leading farmers In
New Castle County requesting them 10
meet at two o'clock yesterday afternoon
in Gregg & Pierce's rooms in the base
msnt Of the Clayton House to take into
consideration the culture Of the sugar
beet and to be instructed in the art Of
raising them by Mr.. Y. Vandenserg .
practical grower Of beets in Holland,
and now having the supsrintendency
Of the growing Of beet for the Delaware
Company.
Very few farmers responded 70 the
Invitation, but amongst those present
we're Z. G. Pennimore Of Odessa; John
Johns OF New Castle; W. p. Lodge Of
Brandywine; John Bradford, John
Richardson, Joseph Richardson and
William Richardson Of Christiana Hun
bred. There were alse present Of the
Delaware Beet Sugar Company, Lea
Pussy, President; George W. Stone,
Seeretary, and A. D. Warner, Treas.
ursr.
The discussion, which lasted for ar
hour or more, was OF an informal and
conversational character, but yet inter
testing and instructive TO all growers O.
lbeets and all who intended to engage
in the work. As the meeting was fol
the purpose Of obtaining from Mr.
Wand 90 berg information in re
regard to the growing of beetp the con
versation Was confined principally Il
THAT topic. Mr.. V. had written sta
|tistics showing the profit in the
Icalture of beets, principally CLEANED
from his Holland experience. He
thought fat lands were the best. In
Holland the soil vas IL inches deep
and the beet crop generally followed
wheat, rye or barley, principally
wheat.
The ground was usually prepared
in the Fall by throwing two burrows
together making ridge. In the
Spring the ridges were torn down by
heavy harross and the weeds which
Igrow very fast in that country. Then
the seed was put in with drills and the
ground rolled to make il compact about
the seed.
He did not favor planting beets in
ridges. Thay could no1 stand the dry
weather 50 we'll. About from the lat
to the 18th Of May he considered a
pro Der tiiae to plant the seed and It
should be planted "a inches apart aud
about II inches apart in the row.
Much care Mr.. Vanden berg said
should be taken in the manure used.
Stable manurss were pjurions because
they contain TOO much salt, which is
, very injurious to the beet culture.
Salt would make the beet grow TO q
large sizs but 1t would depreciate the
sap. He said phosphate with rich
soluble matter was preferable to any
other kind of manure.
Mr.. H. c. Feunimore who is looked
upon 80 the champion beet grower Of
Delaware, asked numSar Of Interest.
| ing questions whick were answered by
Mr. Vaudenberg.
Mr.. Fenpimore raired his great crop
Of beets for which he received The first
| premi am on low ground which was
loyerflowed by the salt briny water
from the Delaware and when the water
lrecsded the ground was white with
salt.
Mr.. Vandenhsrg did not think that
the overlooking of the land by water
from the Delaware injured the beet.
In regard to the pulp OF the beet Mr..
Vsndenberg showed that it could be
kept for three years in pits and used
for food for cattle. He also read from
Ibis manuscripts the profits arising
from fatteniug steers on pulp and lin
seed meal, the profit being 1880 on
each steer in three mouths fsttening,
Mr.. Stone stated that il any of the
farmers were not satisfied with the offer
of the company to pay on . percentage
of sugar extracted from the beets, the
eompan would pay q stipulated sun
of money for raising them, bat they
must be raised in ground selected by
1.-THE Superintendent, Mr.. VsndenbSrg,
and under his supervision. After
more informal conversation the meet.
ing s1Iourned.
1t is said that the company would
have been one thousand acree uudel
cultivation this year.