Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-10-30
sugar nee, culture n suycess

| Sugar Beet Culture Su"ceSS
MR.. EDIroR:-I am glad to see
that some interest is manifested by
our people in the sugar beet indus
try. l have given the matter consid.
erall lie thought for some months and
and am fully persuaded that there is
bright outlook for Tidewater and
Piedmont Virginia, as these sections
are found to be especially adapted to
growing beets rich in sugar.
Early in the year the State Board
of Agriculture undertook an expert
ment to ascertain if the beets could
be grown in this State sufficiently
rich in saccharine to warrant the
manufacture of sugar, and what por
lions of the State were best adapted
to their growth. One hundred ana
fifty dollars were appropriated, and
the Commissioner of Agriculture was
directed to purchase the best beet
seed obtainable and to furnish them
free of cost to representative farmers
throughout the State, who would
agree to plant at least one quarter OF
an acre and send sample of beets 10
the department. for analysis. over
seventy samples have now been sent
in and analysed by DR.. Henry Froeh
ling, an expert chemist, showing from
- to II per cent. of sugar in juice.
When we take into consideration the
fact that this is new industry and
that our people are unacquainted
with the best modes Of culture and
harvesting, our most sanguine eX
pectations nave been exceeded. The
prevailing idea among our farmers
seems to have been to excel each
other in the size of beets, (scine sam
ples weighing as much as eight
pounds,) thus reducing the ercent-
age of saccharine matter. Beets
weighing from one to one and half
rounds are found to show the best
Analysis.
Steps are already being taken to
induce capitalists to put up factories
at Richmond, Newport News and one
on the Eastern Shore, and the Board
has been assured that four dollars
per ton will be paid on a basis of u
per cent OF sugar, with an additional
twenty five cents per ton for each adj
ditional per cent. of sugar. The
average quantity has been found to
be from twelve to twenty tons per
acre, thus you see, that good profit
is assured for crop that can be ma
tured in about four mouths with less
than one fourth the labour required
to grow sweet potatoes.
Sugar is a Carlo hydrate, and IL IL
claimed that the sugar is taken from
the sun and atmosphere, taking
nothing from the soil but moisture.
Experiments for Accomac and Nor
| tlamptON cOuulleo "Sio inoNN ~
the department by Capt. o. a,
Browne, Cape Charles, j. a. Jarvis,
Eastville, Jas. q. Mock and VIM. B..
Pitts, Onancock. and Abel T. James,
Onley, and analysis shows fine per
cent. of sugar. The highest per cent.
however, for the Eastern Shore was
made by myself from three varieties
of imported seed, sowed June 10th
and analysed September goth. The
yilmorin white variety showed sugar
in the beet 1872, sugar in juice 1915
and co-eflicient of purity (crystalized
sugar. 500. With proper fertiliza-
ton. culture and harvesting | am
led to believe that my soil will pro-
duce beets showing over II per cent.
of sugar. This should be encour-
aging indeed to our people as it ex-
ceeds all the States, l believe, except
California. The Board will continue
the experiments another year and
we hope that fifty farmers will under
take to grow at least one quarter OF
an acre of sugar beets.
Respectfully,
A. j. McMath.
onley Va, Oct. 90 1897