The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-01-08
WHAT EXPERIMENTS SHOWED.


Some three or four years ago Prof. Nicholson
visited Europe, and spent some months in the
beet sugar districts OF France and Germany.
When he returned he began the work OF analy z
ing such beets as were obtainable, whether they
We're sugar -beetS OF only the common KIND. Two
years ago he began the cultivation OF beets at
experiment station attached to the State Uni
versity, with the object OF ascertaining whether
a sugar-beeG with paying quantity OF sacchar-
inc matter could be raised III this vicinity. In
all his analyses he placed the line of profitable
culture at u per cent. IL the beetS yielded Il per
able; if less, Improbable His experiments at
the station encouraged him to make more ex-
tended experiments in various parts OF the State,
and seed was distributed to leading farmers i'll
every county OF Nebraska with careful instruc-
tions regarding the preparations OF the soil, the
planting, the culture, and the harvesting. The
reports from these farmers together with the
analyses OF the products, were most encouraging,
and lastspring over 500 pounds Of seeds were sent
out tor further experiments. VI the beeUS raised
this year over $40 samples were Analysed The
work Of making the analysis began in the latter
part OF August and is continuing at this time.
The earlier work shows much less per cent. of
sugar than the LATTER as the beets We're then not
fuzzy matured. SOIL that produced but per cent
beetS in August reported heetS that run from 10
to IL per cent. in october and November. Prof
Nicholson said to-day tnat more than 80 per cent
OF the beets Analysed by him this season have
exceeded the Il per cent. line, while majority
had gone over Is per cent, and fully one third
had produced 2C per cent One remarkable sam
ing near Harrison, Sioux county, that showed
25.2 per cent the richest beet in the history of
Commissioner Jenkins agree in stating that the
experiments which have been thus far made in
Nebraska show conclusively that the soil and
climate of this State are prominently adapted
to the culture of the sugar-beet; that these Ne
braska beets contain more and richer juice and
legs pulp than in other vicinities and that sugar
can be prohtably manufactured therefrom. They
declare that the industry has passed the exper-
inentaf stage and has assumed reality.
PROFITABLE TO THE FARMERS.
The business interests of the State are alive to
the imUOItan,.e OF the InurStrV, and nothing
mains now but the enSting or the interests of
the farmers in the work, for without they take
hold OF it with the proper spirit nothing can be
accomplished. This will not be difficult to &C
conplish, if they can be shown that the culture
of Sugar-beets can be madaprO1tabe to them.
But, first of all, both Prof. Nicholson and C0ul-
missioner Jenkins agree that they will have to
be carefully and thoroughly EDUCATED to pro-
per appreciation Of the fact that this plant re-
CURES special culture to make the business pro
!taple Corn has been king so long IN this State,
end il raised with little effort. that it may take
some time to bring the farmers to a proper APP
probation OF this fact. In most years all the far
mer has to do is to plant his corn, tickle the soil
once or twice. when it's richness, coupled with
the glorious climate, produces abundant harvests
SO abundant in fact, that oftimes there has been
difficulty i'll marketing it at any profit, Last
year, for example, the freight on b,ahel of corn
to Chicago WAS Sreater than IAe price which the
farmer reeeiyeasat his station.
II is a be1ef among the German beet farmers
/ that every time the crop is h0ed per cent. OF
/ sugar is added TO the product. While this may
not be absolutely true, it has been demonstrated
that nothing but the most thorough culture will
produce profitable crop. Commissioner Jen-
| kins quoted numerous experiments and author
ilies in proof OF the statement that nothing hut
practical demonstration will show lust What
culture any particular soil should have for the
successful raising OF sugar heets
LITTLE BEETs THE REST.
sSome farmers have an idea" said Prof. Mich
/ olson, that they should aim to raise as big beets
as possible. This is wrong, as the large heetS are
/ roe near so rich in SucroSe as the smaller ones
and it is sugar we are after, not pulp'
\ these gentienen agree that it should be plowed
deen in tine fall and again i'll the spring The
+ ordinary surface p.owing that answers for corn
! deep and thorough, so that sufficient amount
i of loose open. frlahle soil may he had for the
| properly mature. Bee. mellow. well-drained
soils are theoretically the best. Such are easily