The record-union., 1897-09-23

William r. Gird, the expert sugar
beet tester Of Chino, labored faithful
ly and we'll during the State Fair, and
made scientific and accurate tests OF
specimens of beets brought in from all
sections Of the State4
In securing the services of Mr.. Gird,
the Directors of the State Agricultural
Society recognized the Importance to
the State of the sugar beet industry,
and practically recommended its exten-
sion.
HISTORY OF THE BEET.
The culture Of the sugar beet dates
back as far as history goes, and scien-
tific report shows that it served as ra-
tions for the builders of the Egyptian
pyramids, but until the middle OF the
eighteenth century, was not known 10
have any value as an industrial pro-
duct.
About that time, a German chemist,
Margraff by name, made series OF ex-
periments with vegetables, and found
that the beet yielded a large proportion
of sugar. He attempted to form
corporation for the extraction of beet
sugar, but failed, owing to lack of
business instinct, or because the world
was not yet ready or able to believe
in his report on the subject. Though his
life's work ended in failure, Margraft
was really the father Of the sugar beet
industry.
FIRST FACTORIES.
1t was not until 1901, when Napo-
Icons star was in the ascendant, that
the value Of the beet as a sugar pro-
ducer. was recognized. With official
aid the first sugar beet factory was
established in Silesia in 1901, and
year later the Russians established one
in the province of Toula. while the
Great Emperor caused another to be
erected in France in 1872.
The European Governments fostered
the sugar beet industry and it throve,
until at the present time, over 3,O00,O 600
of acres are planted to beets, produc-
ing about 4,500,0 600 tons Of sugar an
nualIy and annually the United States
buys from European sugar beet pro-
ducers, sugar to the value Of OOOO,-
coo.
BEETS IN AMERICA.
In 1880 a Pennsylvania experiment
ed in sugar beets and miserably failed,
and his venture was dittoed by Mas
sachusetts man in 1888 They had the
experience, and those who came after
them profited by their failure.
1t was not until 1868 that another at
tempt was made at sugar beet culture
in the United States, and this time the
fertile prairie of Illinois was pitched
upon as the point of vantage. But the
soil and natural conditions were unfav-
orable and the attempt resulted in dis
aster.
A CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY.
Tt remained for California to set the
pace in the culture of beets and the
manufacture Of sugar, and in 1869 Mr..
Dyer of Alvarado inaugurated the su-
gar beet industry in the State. It was
not, however until 1SS9-90 that the
Western Sect Sugar Company erected
its factory at Watsonville, and year
later a similar factory was put in
operation at Chino. New factories
have this year been erected at Ana
helm and Salinas, making four in the
State, and eight in the United States,
two being in Nebraska. and in Utah
and one in New Mexico.
While the sugar beet industry is still
in it's infancy, it is rapidly growing, and
1t was for the purpose of ascertaining
the adaptability of the several sections
of the State for beet culture. by max
ing accurate scientific tests of the beets
grown, that expert Gird was called to
the State Fair.
.SACRAMENTO'S EXPERIMENT.
For the past two years the Sacra-
mento Chamber of Commerce has been
busy experimenting in sugar beet cul-
ture and has expended considerable
money in order to determine whether or
not the soil and climatic conditions are
favorable to a successful prosecution of
the industry.
Seed was purchased in wholesale
quantities. and numerous tracts OF
land. each containing one-fourth of an
acre were donated by farmers Of the
several localities, and planted to beets
and cultivated under the direction Of
the Sugar Beet Committee Of the
Chamber of Commerce.
The quarter-acre beet crops planted
last spring had matured when Mr.. Gird
brought his testing apparatus-the most
accurate in existence-to the Fair. and
the Chamber of Commerce was quick to
take advantage of the opportunity to
secure a test of the beets grown, and
thus get a comprehensive knowledge of
the actual amount of sugar in them,
and also to benefit from Mr.. Girds
opinion regarding ;he adaptability o.
the soil to their successful culture
Accordingly, Secretary ]. Q. Coleman
had samples of the beets grown on
each Of the several patches brought IN,
and these samples were subjected 10
the test and in each and every instance
showed an extremely large percentage
of saccharine matter. equal. Il not su-
perior to that shown in beets grown in,
heretofore supposedly favored local
ities.
EXPERT GIRD's TEST.
The test made by Mr.. Gird is simple
yet exhaustive. and according to a YER
batim statement recently made to a
Record Union" reporter, by him, is
as follows:
The beet is first grated to fine
pulp, and the juice carefully pressed
out. The brix or solid contents, IS
found by the use OF hydrometer, the
weight of which is 26.o4S grammes
The amount of the fluid required is as