The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-16
BEET-ROOT SUGAR.
Some Interesting Facts About tho Coming
Industry for Virginia and Virginians.


Editor of The Times:
Sir,-It would seem strange, indeed.
that an industry so eminently adapted
to the climate. soil and resources OF
State, as is the production Of beets and
beet root sugar. to the State of Virginia
should meet with any difficulty In inter
esting any one who has the remotest
idea of what constitutes commercial
greatness.
The cultivation of beet sugar is one OF
those mysterious progenes born by
mother necessity IL was while Eng
land, France and America were engaged
In strife and the source of sugar supply
from the West Indies was cut of, that
France found solution TO the problem
by extracting her sugar from the roots
Of beets; since which time, with more
or less encouragement the industry mas
been carried on. until now there are in
that country about six hundred mills.
The process of manufacture does not IN
volve the use OF a very elaborate or
expensive outfit, compared 10 the value
of the output. 1t can be manufactured
on large or a small scale, as the amount
of capital may determine In many of
the departments Of France sugar is man.
ufactured by the rural house wife as
matter OF domestic economy.
While il is conceded that sugar cane
is richer in saccharine matter than is
the sugar beet and bulk for bulk the
cane sugar is sweetest. yet weight for
weight the root sugar Is not inferior to
the cane. A lump of refined beet root sugar
is lighter than a lump of equal dimensions
OF refined West India sugar.
Looking at 1t from the farmers point
of view, | think it has been very clearly
demonstrated by the recent report of the
State Board Of Agriculture that farmers
can safely engage in this snpOrtant in
dustry. Certainly The elemen. of
chance or experiment has been entirely
removed by the practical tests which
have however. been made In every pOr
ton OF the State that while approximate
figures have been given to gross re-
celpts no one has yet shown the approx
innate cost. l give below an estimate
made many years ago by one who was
engaged in the business and had taken
careful note Of results:
Interest on one acre of land at
40 ............ ............ .......... i.-O
Preparing land for crop............ 800
Cost Of seed and planting .......... 500
Ioeing and thinning crop.......... 500
Taking up and carting roots........ 500
Total cost OF cultivation............$ l7.20
Now let us see what an acre of land
is capable of producing. | think the
State Committee is well within the limit
when II estimates the crop at from 300
to 1000 bushels per acre, twenty-five tons
maximum. In England and France it is
nothing unusual 10 grow 100 bushels
TO the acre, allowing ffty-six pounds TO
the bushel. total over thirty tons. On
this estimate any farmer can calculate his
profit.
On the manufacturers side everything
is in his favor. The high percentage of
sugar realized according 10 DR.. Froeh-
ling's tests of the l25 samples. from all
parts of the State. is a very gratifying
exhibit and assuredly encouraging TO the
capitalists. They have the means of
knowing the approximate cost and out
put of a given amount of beets, without
resorting to experiment. and financial
success can be assured beyond a perad-
venture. They will not need 10 so beg
cling for a market Surely II the people
of Virginia are awake to their own inter
ests they will give encouragement to this
enterprise. which / might almost say
is native 10 the State. Let Us cease to be
buyers of sugar and become sellers in the
market.
S. w.
Richmond. Va. Dec 10. 1897.