The record-union., 1896-11-21
ADDRESSED TOl LAND CULTIVA-
TORS.

| ADDRESSED TOT LAND CULTIVA-
TORS.
The people Of the United States con-
sumo 2,324, 900 tons Of sugar annually.
| Reduced to pounds that is 4,64S,OOO,-
| 600, and divided by our population,
taken at 70,000,O0O, gives the consump-
ton 68 2S.70 pounds per capita, but It
| Is generally placed at GA pounds. or
| this vast amount of sugar We import
nearly two thirds
| How much of that ought we to pro-
duce? Indeed, the question ought to
| be, Should we not grow and express
all of that ourselves?" It is conceded
that in many parts of the State we
have the soil fit for ugar-beet-growing,
and that in California conditions are
| peculiarly favorable to such growth,
with the highest saccharine percent
age.
How much Of such soil have we IN
Sacramento County? That is the ques-
ton the Chamber of Commerce puts
to the public, but more especially 10
farmers. The chamber recommends
THAT ARRANGEMENTS be made for plant
ing not less than twenty-five patches
of sugar-beets In this county for the
purpose of proving If the various soils
are adapted to the profitable production
Of this crop.
| 1t submits the following as a form OF
an agreement to be signed by the
parties who are to cultivate the
patches of beets:
I'm consideration of the Sacramento
Chamber of Commerce agreeing to fur
niSh sugar-beet seeds and instructions
| for cultivat1ng same, 1 hereby agree
to furnish acre plat Of land and
to cultivate said land and to care FOR
the crops while maturing according to
instructions to be given by said Cham
Der of Commerce or it's representative
1t Is further agreed that the Chamber
of Commerce shall have the exclusive
right to use such quantities of beets as
may be necessary for assaying or test
ing"
The chamber recommends tests be
made as follows: On north side Of
American River, 3; on south side Of
American River, 6; on Costumes River,
| g; on Sutter Island, 2; on Merrett
Island, 4; In Pierson District, 4. Total,
25.
The chamber at considerable expense
has been Investigating this matter, and
it has had the best of expert advice in
the premises. It now remains for the
farmers In this county to second the
public-spirited work. If they do not
do so nothing at all will be done. The
chamber has no land; it has not the
means to buy land and carry On the
| cultivation tests But it has mapped
tor the experimenting.
Will our landed proprietors second
the chamber In its laudable scheme?
Whatever is done should be moved up
on very early. Nothing is to be gained
and much Is to be lost by delay. Beet
sugar growing is entirely successful in
Southern California, and north Of that
in coast counties. AS far north as
| Alameda expressing works have been
established. and bids for stock are made
by the mill, If farmers will but grow
the beet.
1t Is stated by the local press OF
that county that Sonoma Is about to
act ON a large scale in the experimental
direction. 1t has grown beets already
that show a higher saccharine percent
age than any yet produced In the State.
The trial has been SO happy there that
1t is now proposed to plant large ex-
perirnental acreages. and meanwhile to
raise the capital to erect expressing
works In that county.
II the sugar-beet can be we'll and
profitably grown In this county, then
there is no spot In the State better
adapted to the location of sugar works.
Central, with cheap, reliable power,
situated admirably as to radiating
transportation lines by water and rail,
what reason is there why we should
not have a large manufacturing in
dustry of that order here? 1t Is to be
hoped that land owners will promptly
comply with the offer OF the chamber,
and enter at once upon the experiment,
the success of which Is not doubted by
those we'll informed.
=