The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-01-08
sTAUNToN, VIRGINIA, THURSDAY, JANUARY s. 1891
IMPORTANT TO FARMERS.

Sugar Beets Grown Near Staunton with
High Average OF Sugar-Great Possibil-
tiles 70. Augusta Farmers.
With commendable interest in the
public welfare of Augusta county, one
OF it's most intelligent and reliable
business men, whose name the VIR
GINIAN was requested not to publish
has obtained through considerable
expense and trouble the very valuable
information given in the letter printed
below:
DEC. 10, 1890
Editor Of the Valley Viaganian:
Dear Sir,-Please find inclosed clip
ping from the Chicago Tribune regard
ing the beet culture in Nebraska and
Kansas | don't know whether you
were aware that the writer secured from
the Agricultural department at Wash
ington as we'll as from a dealer in seeds
in Boston last spring, seeds of several
different varieties of sugar beet for the
purpose of testing the soil and climate
of Stanton for the amount of sugar
they would yield. Among them we re-
ceived all kinds, both good and indiffer-
be below what it would have been if we
had taken only those varieties which
are well established as being suitable for
the development of sucrose. The result
may be seen in the following excerpt
from letter received by us, dated Wash
ington, December 5th, 1890. 1.-The per
cent of sucrose compares very favorably
with those sent in from other parts of
the country The average sucrose is
slightly above IL per cent, while those
from Nebraska analysed at this office.
although running from Q per cent.
to 90 per cent. sucrose, averaged a
little above ~ per cent. Those grown
in the vicinity of Grand Isle, however,
[Signed j. NJ. Rusk, Sec. Agriculture
We presume that the beets grown ia
Nebraska were of the kind knoann to
yield the best results, as we should plant
only such if we were raising them for
use or sale, as is the case in Nebraska.
Taking only the grades that yield the
best results, our proportion of sucrose in
those varieties was over 10 per cent.
We are surprised to find so large a per
cent. of sugar, especially since the
ground was not properly prepared, and
the season was very unIavorab1e; be-
sides, we think the beets would have
SilOWCit q III uC1l SiCI IVl CCut IL tIicJ
had been allowed to mature more.
We think the result is such as is
worthy the attention Of farmers of Au-
gusta, at least to induce them to test the
matter further. For many reasons we
think the soil and climate of Augusta
county well adapted for the growth of
beets.
These beets are well suited for feeding
stock, so the trial of half an acre or more
by any farmer will not be a loss. Where
sugar is made from the beets, the refuse
or spent beef pulp is valuable for far
mers to feed and fatten stock.
1t is important to prepare the soil
deeper than for other crops and to plant
the beets near each other, not attempt
ing to raise large beets. Large beets
contain much less per cent. of sugar
than those weighing from one to one
and a half pounds each.
We have given you such facts as we
gained THIS last in making this
experiment, SO that you can make such
use of them as you think best, but pre-
fer you should not use our name in the
matter, as we make no pretense in farm
ing, and would not wish to advise any
one in this line further than to call at
tention to the subject, SO that others
may make trials which will be more re-
liable. Truly yours,
The following extracts from the Chi
cago Tribune article referred to give an
interesting account of the start made by
Nebraska and Kansas people in the beet
sugar industry:
Many Of the farmers near Grand Island, Neb.,
planted the seed last spring, and with great ex-
pectationS awaited the result By September
The machinery was ready and the beetS came
rolling in, and soon thereafter very fine article
of granulated sugar came rolling ouU uf the end
OF the machinery opposite where the crude beetS
were fed. Something like zoo tons Of sugar were
turned out when the supply was exhausted and
the works We're shut down. 10 mosJ OF Tile peo-
pie interested these results were most SatlSTac-
tory, but some OF the farmers were disappointed.
Their big expectations were not realized. But
when these self same FARMERS look at their grain
crops OF this year and compare Tie profits on
them with the profits on their sugar beeIS ii they
are fair minded they cannot help but he satisf-
ed, though some OF them came out behind
TWO men i'll Nebraska are largely responsible
for the beet ougar agitation. they are Prof.
Nicholson, iii charge OF the experiment station
at the State University, and the Hon. John Jen-
kins, Commissioner OF Labor and Industrial
Statistics. They some time ago satisfied them
selves that NeDraska's soil and climate were Pc
sugar beets, and they have labOred earnestly to
the people.
WHAT EXPERIMENTS SHOWED.
Some three or four years ago Prof. Nicholson