The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-11-23

~ QepAkbmG0U OF AgklCul6ufo CneBlBtl
and found TO be very rich in Bugar. Con
cerning them, General Manager HinmsT
OF the sugar woHks, wrote: eve have dem
onstFated that we can grow the finest an
best sugar beetS in the world" DR.. Wiley
chief chemist Of the department Of agricul
ture, was so skeptiOsl as TO the sugar con
tents, that only after personally witnessing
the analysis would he accept the results a
correct, and then declared that he woul,
have to revise his map Of the sugar beet sec
ton Of the United States so as TO include q
least a portion Of southern Kansas.
The official report Of the Hon. Geo.
Kellogg, state sugar inspector, for 1890
states that the average per cent. Of sugar il
the entire crop worked at Medicine Lodge
was 16 25. Such beets are entirely suitabl,
for the manufacture Of sugar.
The sugar company Immediately began II
consider plans for the addition of sucl
machinery as would make Of their works
complete modern beet sugar factory. Blu
on mentioning 20 the farmers the matter o.
growing sufficient supply of beets for 1
full seasons run, il was found that those
who had grown beets in 1880 would not CON
tract again, stating that there was no profl
in growing beets at the factory prices, the
entire proceeds and more being required &c
pay for the labor Of producing and deliver
ing them.
In 1890, the State Agricultural college
took up the work of experimenting with
sugar beets, under the able management Of
the chemical department.. The beets pro-
duced at Manhattan, in 1880, notwithstsnd
ing the seed was Of the best varieties,
imported directly from the most reliable
seedsmen. and, Notwithstanding the excel.
lent culture given them, were not generally
suitable for the manufacture of sugar.
Only two samples contained as much as 1O
per cent. Of sugar.
Some fairly successful attempts were
made in 1890 to produce sugar beets in
Harvey county, and carload Of workable
beets from the vicinity Of Newton were
manufactured into sugar at Medicine
Lodge.
Experiments were also made at the United
States government station at Sterling, un-
der the direction Of the expert, Mr.. A. A.
Denton. Workable beets were producedj
and yet Mr.. Denton did not become satisfied
that they could be made profitable crop.
In 1891, the experiments in beet culture
were repeated at Medicine Lodge on much
smaller scale than in 1890. The experimental
plats planted did well, and che analyses con-
tinued to show satisfactory percentages Of
sugar.
The experiments By the agricultural col
lege we're this year very much extended. In
their report Professors Failyer and Willard
say:
IL was thought that more might be learned r0.
gardlDg the capabilities OF our soils and climate
BY growing the beets In many portions OF the
state than BY combining our fIlNls to one or few
localities even though the plats In this more ex.
tenslve trial were quite small In size. Further,
it was considered tnat the test would be more
conclusive II the preparation Of the soil and the
sugar beet growing countries Of Europe were
adopted.
TO make the test, AZ above indicated, It was
necessary n secure the cooperation Of many
farmers OF the state, In growing the heets. Two
distinct lineS were pursued In securing this cO-
operation In such q way a. to give satisfactory
geographical distribution. Pwanty-six localities
were selected 0y us because OF the character and
extent Of the illlahlo soil as well as the geo
graphical pOaiti0n. These sections were visited by
q representative OF the chemical department OF
the station, and the plan explained personally TO
the farmers whose assistance was sought. Fur
ther than this, an offer Was made tO furnish
seed TO al who applied for Il. and to analyZe the
beet sent In 20 the station The seed furnished
was the best kinds OF German and French sugar
beetS In pursuance OF the above plans, this
seed was distributed TO about $50 farmers and
gardeners about $50 OF them IN the selected
localities. It win thus be seen that the farmers
cheerfully responded, the number assisting In
the several selected localities warning from SIX 20
twenty-five. The farmers TO whom the not In
ennalderAhlA nnmhAR Of nAnkaRna OF seed NaEA