The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-16

Take this estimate for O basis, and figure
on 5000 farmers in Montana each cultivat-
ing 100 acres in sugar beets: The value Of
the product runs up to $4,000. coo. And
what il better. the money would remain in
the country. There are 5000 acres of good
land in the valley north of Helena. In re-
timing a ton of the raw beet sugar two tons
of Goa and one ton of lime are used. There
10 no scarcity of the latter in this locality.
And coal. there's lots of it, n there is
ing $4,000 Perhaps n wonld not be
enough. 1t 10 an orening of magnificent
possibilities for the future, not only of Hell
ena, but the entire state. While Mr.. Child
was conservative in his estimate, he was al
so Of the opinion that a wild rush Of expert.
has a great many minor detiiis
to it which should be looked
into and understood before under
taking anything extensive. The high per-
centage of & obtained from bcets
raised on Montana soil should be investi.
gated. Mr.. Child's theory on this point il
that the high percentage is due to the eli
matte condition. Then it might be thai
the virgin efforts of the soil on a first croI
produce the high percentage. II this is SO
then comes the question of repairing the
waste by means of fertilizers.
Mr.. Child said he would like to nave the
farmers of the state give their views on the
estimate he has made as to the production
Of ! eets per acre. judging from the results
obtained from other crops. All communi-
cations on this point, or upon the mair
subject, received at The INDEPENDENT office
will be published in q future article. Mr.
Child will continue his experiments THU
spring on his ranch near this city. He has
ordered 400 pounds of seeds from France
of different varieties. which he will put il
the ground as soon as tho season opens
So far as be now but ono othcl
experiment with sugar beets has been made
in the state. This was by a gentleman il
the Bitter Root valley whose name he does
not know. Samples were sent from there
to a refinery in California, the returns
showing a percentage a little over 16.
That the whole subject may be better IN.
dcrstood, Mr. Child suggests that fdnds
should be raised. either by the state or b,
private subscription. to send a competent
person to the works of the OxHard SugnI
Manufacturing and Refining company nj
Grand Island. Nebraska. This concern
has a $685. 900 plant. Much valuable infor-
nation can be obtained from the company
that wonld prevent uselesD expense and
mistakes in the inisiatory stages OF the de.
yeiOpment of such an enter prise at Helena.
The first to discover the value of the
sugar beets was a chemist in Berlin III 17f7. A
pupil Of his, Achard, 40 years later demon
sttated the possibility of making beet sugar
on q large scale. He also showed that. be
sides the sugar and molasses. the pulu
would be a useful product ~ food for fat
tening cattle. whose fi;snElEo would bs Of
value for other crops: also that the mo.
lasses would serve for the manufacture of
spirits and vinegar. The first sugar enter
prise in the United States was started by
John Vaughn and James Donaldson, of Phil
adelphia, in 1880. but failed Tor want of in
formation. In 1860 experiments were made
IN California. which finally resuited IN tho
formation of the Alvarado Sugar
beginning work in 1870. Another ce.:I pany
will nut $500 acres in beets this spring in
that state.