The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-07
SUGAR FROM BETS.

SUGAR FROM BEETS.
The Growth OF tho beet Industry In Europe
How the Roots arc Cared for-Possl-
bili,ies of the Crop In this Country.
For tho past ten years tho agricultural out
look In our country has been a gloomy one.
Farming has not been remunerative In tho
older States farms have been abandoned. OK
certing near largo towns. whore small fruits
and vegetables can be grown at profit In
the newly settled States, where mRnurcs are
not applied to any great extent. the profits are
larger: but there the closest economy must DO
observed or the farmer cannot meet his ex-
penses and maintain his homo. There are on
Long Island very many farms. in fact the ma
jority Of them. where tho farmers gross re-
ceipts are not much Us the better class OF
| skilled workmen receive from their years
labor. Consequently our farmers are looking
for some industry more profitable than the
growing OF cereals. fruits, vegetables. or the
raising OF stock.
Among others the sugar beet industry has
has been discussed and earnestly advocated
because 1t is more profitable in France and
| Germany than any other branch OF agricul-
| ture. It's advocates say. IL remunerative in
| other countries. why cannot it be made SO in
| this That the industry is n profitable one
| when established docs not admit of ques-
| ton. because it would not bo pursued IL it
| Germany has made success in the manufac-
| ture of beet sugar that we can. II it were a
| question OF intelligence or industry it would
settle itself. and the only consideration would
be. will it pay? But there are climatic condi-
tons. as well as those OF soil. that must be
considered quite as much as our necessities
and enterprise.
In order better to understand the situation
| let us review the industry carried on in
| nd nd NJ
| important facts connected with the same that
| are not generally understood. facts that were
| obtained on the farms. factories. and seed
| houses in the countries above mentioned. 1t
is to be regretted that many Of the statements
commonly made regarding this industry are
| superficial and do not clearly state tho case: in
fact are misleading. not from any disposition
I to misrepresent. but because they are not I'M
derstood 1t requires far moro than n casual
view OF the farms on which the beets are
grown. or visit to the vast factories where
they are converted into sugar. to know any
thing about the industry. There are certain
scientific principles involved that must be
clearly understood. we'll as the cost OF the
| knowledge required. before the slightest idea
can be formed as to the practicabiity Of it's in
PRODUCTION in this country. In order to DO
better understood let us take hasty glance
| at the history OF sugar making from beets.
| list MarGraf demonstrated the existence OF
cane sugar in the beet root but it was not till
| 1900 that its manufacture was commenced as
| an industry in France and Germany. Since
then it has rapidly increased in Importance
but not without vast expenditure Of money
which was largely contributed by tho govern
ments in the way Of bounties. Like all other
industries. at the start there was but little to
encourage and much to dsheartcn tho
| nil licf Nd had mot hanr fnr
couragement the, governments afforded; the
enterprise would have been cided failure.
because it cost NOR. , to establish til.
enterprise would put into the venture. as will
be made sufficiently clear rs We proceed AS
Of going without sugar, While necessity, was
produced until tho year 1915. when the indus
try commenced rapid strides. and the proIuc-
100000 tons. yalusi.at sj25.U0o.0 OV. '''' "''
ton Of 9Gf tie " ws 'f fs"T Wien
at the start did not contaia nearly SO large u
no of uSIsr dnv.6n h do tine
4s Of al ,Hs in
and chemist has the slightest appropriation OF
The Labor E it has co,t to deyeop in the beet It's
to maintain i, n il; TO Henry yiI%orIn q Paris
X. IL
m.nts I visited. we are indebted for much
the industry. In either OF thesa establish
meats may he seen as perfect chemical labora-
Il Il tho .atte r. should say, without knowing
the exact size, were 5Ox75 feet, and com pletrly
Mt A. the o apEanGss fer the Hkns
in the production Of seed will state.
Its generally known that all roots. no mat
tor what the class or variety may be- when
grown Tor seed purposes are grown from seed
sown in the spring. and taken up upon tho
panted tho following spring. When i' the "HT most
careful selection as to form, sizc. and color is
Iuires ten times more care in selection than
oil others combined; The important feature,
not Of the slightest importance. viii IL" Ucnr.
and they are novor noticed. IT matters not
s nS I2G ssooFsi e oE sra pak 2F "
test OF Importance being he pclcentAEr %ir 80
ss.t e mn!sr a tnS rt IN H.. a E
manner: In selection for seed purposes
here Is small piece G@used out Of each RET;
goes through n the operations necessary TO
make sugar and every root that 4 ,"s not on
cd. Now. when We consider, that it t,k"s 1000
roots to plan, an acre. and that thu urn plants
Industry IS I" DO establshsd in ms country
and us thorough: and. further. selr tons must
bemsde in our country for our country. as
| VIII now enubuNoT 10 Snow.
| The cultivation OF the beet for any purpose
in any country is simple enough: its require
ments ar" IA deep. strong loain. made very
rich. and worried deep ana iine nt n, start.
with ireluent surface workings until the crop
is secured. In its cultivation for snGar pnr-
poses there Is point 81 vital importance that
must not be overlooked. VI e, does the soil
and cimat, possess thu elements that are
essential in the manufacture Of sugar No
plant can rake from either or both clements
they donot contain. opsrouently when given
duction. the vegetable shouli not again
he planted In the same soil unit nature.
7 through her own resources. has replaced the
lesirIl element. This principle is what has
has made the rotation Of croUs an ayr cultural
necessity. Ott-repeated experiment. has shown
concusiycly that h"ets for sugar cannot lao
proiirRbiy grown ON the same Held but once in
four years. and II is hotte. il they are deferred
hve years. This is Of so much imrurtance
, that before manufacturer viii buy given
crop he has systematic test made from roots
| taken from various nArts VI the ilrl Yhis il as