The Baltimore County union., 1881-01-08
CULTURE OF THE SUGAR BEET.

At the late monthly meeting Of the Bcrks
County (Pa.) Agricultural Society the subjcc; oc
the cultivation Of the sugar beet discussed Us
also that Of tobacco culture.
Col. J. l.. Stichtsr, a member, who had given
practical attention 10 beet culture, presented re-
port from which VIC CLEAN important facts. which
we trust our farmer friends will examine with care
lie maintained that In Europe the manufacture Of
beet sugar has stimulated agricultural enterprise
90 u wonderful extent, and j. annually extending
over broader territory. In fifteen years IL has in
creased fourfoli. At first tho governments Of
France and Germany paid bountics TO the manu-
facturcrs, and in addition, protected them by high
tariffs; now these same governments exact an in.
ternal revenue tax ffrom thirty four 10 iiiy-six
dollars ON every acre of roots grown, and In the
face of this enormous tax, the farmers and manu-.
faeturers were never more prosperous. The beet
sugar made in Europe in 1875, amounted to .3lI,.
G23 tom, aproduetion equal 10 81 per cent ofthc
cane sugar manufactured In the world. The in
ternal revenue tax upon European beet sugar
amounted in ls7I-j to over $4,000, 600.
In Berks county there is no sugar mill. and to
extract sugar from the beet the latter had 10 be
sent to the Delaware Sugar Mill, at Wilmington.
A sample sent TO that mill yielded 10 per cent. Of
sugar, which was regarded as a good result.
Augustus l.. WentEei, another member Of the
society and beet grower, stated that ON one
piece Of ground, containing thirty square
rods. he had grown 200 bushels Of sugar bceis. of
55 lbs. TO the bushel, being n yield Of % tons 10
the acre, netting, at IS per ton. Sl?j TO the
lie had planted the seed two feet apart. in rows
three feet apart and had subscq thinncd out
the plants. The product would probably have
been 100 bushels more, II the weather had not
been so dry. In answer 90 question by the
President, Mr.. wen;iel said that he IL feeding the
beets to his cows, and the result Is that the
produce more milk, and enjoy them. There IL u
great deal Of substance in the bcc,s and much sac
charine matter. In answer 10 :. l.. Snyder 10
said that he had grown beet about twice rs large
as the specimen exhibited. and that the latter is
somewhat larger than the average. lie has bcc,s,
however, ten Of which Gil n bushel basket. u
bushel basket full being the quantity fed 10 four
cows, mssning and evening. Mr. wentxcl said he
had not tried them for horses, but Gen. Barto
stated that he Is sa:i6ci that sugar bcets are ex
ecilcnt food for horses. lie tried tho feeding OF
other roots TO horses, with admirable results.
DIR. Aaron Smith said that sugar bcets arc su-
perior to turnips for feeding horses and cattle.
They are splendid for fattcning cattle, aud have
cooling effect, corn alone being too heating. Cat
tie eat the beets with ayidity and thrive them
exceedingly we'll Tho carrot also Is an excellent
food for cattle, aud Is Of the best vegetables
that the farmer can raise 10 save his grain and
hay.
Coming back 10 the manufacture Of the bee, In
10 sugar, Col Stiehter stated that beets averaging
10 per cent. Of saccharne matter are worth i've
dollars per ton Of 1000 pounds at the mill, which
would yield SIPS per acre ut the rate Of produc-
tion attained by Mr.. wontzcl. The freight per
ton In carload lots from Reading to Wilmington
Is Sl.s2. The company pays one cent per mile
per ton Of 1000 lbs. for all beets delivered to VIII
mington the distance from Reading being -
miles, would make an offset on the freight OF y2
cents. Should the Wilmington and Northern
Railroad carry beets at one per cent. per ton per
mile, being the amount advanced by the mill,
beets would net the farmer s. per ton.
Tho object OF tho Society being TO ascertain
whether Il would pay TO establish mill in Berks
county, Col stichter had visited tho mill In Della
ware. lie found II situated at Riverside, on the
Delaware river, about two aud a-half miles north
Of Wilmington, on the Philadelphia and Whining
ton Railroad. The mill has cost the company
some 100000. When II 10 thoroughly fitted up
Il can make from nine TO ten tons Of raw sugar
per twenty -four hours. Tho working season 10
about four months long, from October. provided
enough beets are had so as 10 make 900 10 200
tons Of sugar In the season. To do this requires
about $4,000 tons Of beets. Tho sugar beet pulp
Is readily bought by stock feeders and dairymcn
at the low price Of one dollar per ton. The pur-
ehasers are among the most cntcrprising and care
ful farmers, who report very favorably Of II as q
food for COWS and for fattening cattle.