Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-12-18
sugar Beet QuesrioI,.

paper to let the farmers OF the East
/ ern Shore know what was done a.
the meeting at Cape Charles to con-
slider the sugar beet question.
Mr.. L. E. Mumford, banker, wai
called to the Chair; and Mr.. Ed. 8
! Wise, of Craddockville, Accomac Co.,
was elected Secretary. The writer
who called the meeting, stated thai
the sugar beet crop promised well af
new business, and read from the
reports of the Chemist, so far as re-
ported at that time the results OF
analyses made from nearly all parts
of the State; and those from the
Eastern Shore stood in the first rank.
To determine the value of sugar
beets three points are to be consider
ed:-1st. The size of the beets, the
smaller the beet the richer it is apt
to be, large beets yield less saccharine
( matter. 2nd. The amount of sugar
in the juice. 3rG The purity of the
juice. Apply all these points and the
best beets were grown in Accomac.
aon. s. Wilkins Matthews informs
me, that he sent the samples, to the
chemists, but they were grown by
Mr.. w. II. Bull, at Mappsville:
Weight of Beet 1900. ID. 9 OF.
| S,o,or;n +ba Tnice 16. 05 per ct.
Coef1icient of Purity. 1856 per ct.
w. H. Bull, Accomac Co.
The next best analysis was from
sugar beets grown at the State Farm,
by the convicts, in Gooehland Co., on
the janet river bottom lands:
Weight of Beet. .........1 10. 8 OF.
Sugar in the Juice. ......17.6 per ct.
CoefIicient of Purity. ..SO.1 per CT.
State Farm, Goochland Co.
Counting the beets as of equal
size, which is a disadvantage to the
Accomac product, it is still within a
fraction OF per cent. more valuable
than the Goochland beet and these
two stand at the top OF the list in all
the analyses in the State. The re-
suits in the State all show, that in all
parts of it, the results are sufficient
to justify growing the crop by farm
ers, and the manufacturing OF sugar
by capitalists.
A factory could be established in
Eastern Virginia, and the Eastern
Shore could grow the most valuable
beets for it, because it could grow
them earlier, and thus open the fac
tory sooner, and make the season
longer for making sugar, which will
be great advantage to the manu-
facturer.
To accomplish this, the writer had
an interview in Norfolk with MIR. j.
j. Pace, a capitalist of Richmond, to
locate a factory to receive Eastern
Shore beets; and to commence grow
ing the crop next year. What is es
pecially demanded at this time is, to
learn what each farmer will grow of
this crop; and those who will plant
the coming season can report by
letter to Secretary Ed S. Wise, of
Charlottesville, Va stating how much
they will plant. There are about
5000 farmers on the Eastern Shore
aud if one half of them will plant an
acre, an immense crop can be grown
This will not require a large invest
ment for anyone, and all can learn
for themselves the value of it. If the
beets are not sold to any factory,
they will be found to surpass any
other crop in feeding value to stock.
Horses, COWS, sheep and hogs are
very fond of them. The writer's
crop was weighed, and though it was
not a good stand, he obtained 12t
tons per acre. This at $500 per ton
gives $50 90; and the cost of produc
ton is about that of carrots or pars-
nips. The net returns would be
about twice the value of corn.
There are many acres in both coun-
ties that have been used for trucks
and now need rotation and nothing
can be found better than beets for
market or feeding crop. There Is
one point of importance, and that is:
the land should be plowed early and
sub so;led. This can be done with 8
single plow, by taking the mould
board off the pillow and following in
the furrow, putting it down as deep
as two strong animals can pull it.
The writer has been in communi
cation with Mr.. o. K. Lapham, Pres
ident of the Interstate Sugar Co.,
and an outlet through him for the
the sale of sugar beets is also prom
ising.
The subject of sugar production
will be continued in another letter.
TO follow this and the writer will
answer any and all questions on the
subject through the columns of the
Eastern Shore papers with the per
mission of the editors of them.
Respectfully,
ORRIs A BROWNE.
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Christmas Dialogue.