Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-03-24
DELAWARE SUGAR BETS
4 TiLK WITH FARMERS ON TINE
sUBJECT.


SUBJfsCT.
Preparations for the Coming Season
"A Rainy Day Conference at
MIddIetown-The Past and the
Future.
Messrs. George W. Stone, secretary,
Alfred ID. Warner, treasurer, and lsaak
Vandenberg, Agricultural Superinten-
dent OF the Delaware Beet Sugar Company,
went down to Middletown on Saturday
afternoon to talk with the farmers about
planting sugar beets. worse day for
the meeting could hardly have been
chosen. A cold rain was steadily falling
and the roads We're muddy. Under the
circumstances it is not strange that the
attendance was small, numbering about
u dozen persons, but those who came
were among the most thrifty and
influential farmers of ST. Georges
hundred.
The little band met in Agricultural
Hall, and devoted an hour or 50 to II free
interchange of opinions. Messrs Stone
and Vandenberg made short speeches
and felt repaid for their troubles by the
interest manifested by those present.
Mr. Stone told his hearers that, though
the third year OF the existence OF the
Beet Sugar company, this is really the
second year of active operations. Last
year was an unfortunate one in several
Respects. The season was hot and dry {;
the bcets generally Were sown too late,
and the manufacturers had much to learn.
| This year both manufacturers and
farmers start out under very different
| prospects. The weather promises to be
more favorable and both parties have
learned much. Among the many things
learned is that the beets should be
planted earlier. Last years crop was
planted about the middle of May this
years crop will be planted about the first
of May. This will enable the young
beets to get Il good start, so that insects
will not be able to iniure them much.
1--WE have 800, 900 locked up in build
ings and machinery" said Mr.. Stone,
land we are getting anxious to hasten
| the solution of successful beet culture.
| The manufacture of the sugar is an estab
lished success, if we can only get the
| beets. We want all the beets we can get
1t is to our mutual advantage to have 1
large crop. We do not expect to max,
anything this year; we want to do al
that we can TO encourage farmers to grow
beets and to establish the culture on
substantial and permanent footing. TX
do this, we have offered the last possibl,
penny for beets that the interest vii
allow and have asked the Legislature tt
appropriate a bounty for the growing o
beets. We are not asking anything TO
the company at all only that the Stat
al
ture II fair and square trial. New Jerse.
has already passed u law giving bount.
Of 81 per ton for the beets and once cen
per pound for the sugar. We only asl
for the bounty to the growers; We do no
ask anything for ourselves"
THE PAST AND THE FUTURE.
Last wear there was manufactured a
the company's works, at Riverside on til
Delaware, about 103, 900 pounds Of bee
sugar OF very fair quality. This yiel
would have been sensibly increased ha
the manufacturers been prepared fc
work month earlier. The averag
per eentage OF sugar in the beets used wa
9.52. The crop was harvested late i
October. Tests made of the same beet
: in September showed that one per cen
bl sugar llt'l Ittil lbHA, ~
acid salts, by allowing the crop to renal
so long in the ground. This knowlede
will he utilized in the coming season, an
tile beets harvested and the factor
started in September. "rhis one p,
cent. y. Mr.. Stone says, sis enough
turn the scale between profit and loss
this industry"
The prices offered by the company fl
the coming season range from $3.50 p
ton for beets containing s per cent.
sugar to $50 per ton for beets contail
ing II per cent. of sugar, delivered q
the ears at any station of the r., w. II
or Delaware railroad, or on boats at plac,
agreed upon. The best soil for the growt
of heets is that upon which good crop
wheat has been grown the precedir
- year. The same f.rtilizing answers +,
both crops, in proper soils, the bee
extracting fertilizing ingredients whic
; the wheat does not require.
n The company expects to obtain Il
n yield of from 500 to | 900 acres this yea
n and would like to have 300 acr
n planted. Contracts have already bee
Il made with farmers in New Jersey f
e about 100 acres, in Pennsylvania for
y acres. in Maryland for $50 acres, in Il
G vicinity of Middletown for 100 acres,
h Kent county for 80 acres, and for sundl
e parcels in the upper part of this count
II The largest and most successful grow
Il thus far has been Mr.. L. c. Fennimore,
t Odessa. who will plant about 40 acr
d this year He carried OIL the first pri
s last year, and will compete for the pri
d now offered of $500 for the best 100 to
i of bcets grown during the coming seaso
IS In favorable season from 10 to 3 to
n an acre may he looked for when the cr
J. is well attended to. Mr.. Vandenberg,w w
$ is thoroughly familiar with the successf
Ie culture of the beat in Europe, has be
'r engaged by the company to travel aroul
Y among the farmers this year and gi
them, free Of charge, the benefit OF his e
n periemce as to the proper cultivation of
IS crop. One very important result of bt
le culture is that the resultant pulp, fro
r. which the juice has been extracted,
p specially adapted to the feeding of catt
1t II is sold by the company at the rate
u : per ton and special rates have he
lr made with the railroads for its che
90 delivery where wanted.