The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-01-13
BEET SUGAR.
Col. SpreckeIs Issues a Circular let
ter to the Beet Growers.

Col. Claus SpreckeIS, president OF the
Western Beet Sugar Company, has
placed the following letter in circulation
for the benefit of intending beet growers
throughout the state of California. 1t
is full of valuable information, and will
be read with interest.
I he inquiry regarding the Iltivat 0
OF sugar beets in California, and my in
tentions as to the erection of factories,
have become so numerous that it is ut
terly impossible to send a separate writ
ten reply to each individual. l have,
therefore, framed this letter, which en-
braces all the necessary information
that I am prepared to give at the pres
ent time.
My belief is that the cultivation of
sugar beets will soon be one of the larg-
est agricultural pursuits, not only in Cal
ifornia but in all the western States and
Territories, both soil and climate being
more favorable to the purpose than even
in Germany The failure in the past to
manufacture sugar from beets, on a pay
ing basis, has been mainly due to the
absence of the best available machinery.
The beets that were grown have been
suitable for the purpose, but the ma
chinery has been deficient. This, how
ever, will be obviated in the future, as I
have secured the right for the whole
of the United States of all the latest me-
chanical appliances and manufacturing
methods that are now in use in Ger
many, which is the largest and most
successful beet sugar producing country
in the. world.
The soil best adapted for growing
sugar beets is rich, sandy loan. Beets
must not be grown successfully in the
same soil, and they must never be man
ured Land that has produced a crop
of beets should be planted in grain the
next year, then MANFRED and planted
again in grain, and in the third year it
may be replanted with beets, but it must
not be MANFRED that year. Thus a farm
of $50 acres would enable farmer to
grow 30 acres Of sugar beets in each
year, and l think l may safely say that
the 90 acres planted in beets will prove
more profitable each year than the
whole of the other 100 acres that are
producing grain at present prices. The
price OF beets will be determined by the
percentage of saccharine matter that
they contain, few beets being taken
from each load as delivered at the fac
tory, for analysis-the result of that
analysis forming the basis upon which
each load will be paid for. By this
means the best beets will obtain the
best price, and the farmer will be en-
couraged to careful cultivation.
L propose to erect one factory at Wat
sonville, at a cost of about $500 900,
which will be in operation by Septem-
Der 1, 1888. This factory will consume
$50 tons OF beets in every twenty-four
hours, but be doubled by the following
year. At present it will require 100
cords OF wood and seven tons of lime
daily during the four or five months
that it is in operation. This will show
the necessity for having good supplies of
wood and lime near the factory, which
should also be near line of railroad or
to suitable water facilities for shipment
OF raw sugar to San Francisco. The
lime is a good fertilizer, and can be re-
turned to the soil again. The pulp from
the beets can be fed to cattle, and will
keep them in fine condition.
Before erecting factory anywhere I
must be guaranteed that at least $500
acres will be planted in beets every
year for definite number of wears.
must also be assured of sufficient SUD-
plies OF wood, water and lime in the
neighborhood, and good transportation
facilities. 1t requires from fifteen to
twenty pounds of beet seed to plant an
acre of ground. The seed costs ten
cents per pound in Germany, and would
probably cost twelve cents per pound
here. | am importing twenty-five tons.
which are now on the way, and some Of
this viii be distributed gratoitouslv. in
small packages, to those who desire To
experiment ON their farms But [ shall