Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-07
BETS AND CAMPHOR.
SECRETARY WILSON'S VIEWS
ABOUT THEM.
The Agricultural and Arboriculturist
Receiving Special Attention-Wilson
Says There Is No More Reason for
Would Keep Money at Home.

Would Keep Money at Home.
Special Washington correspondence:
Secretary Wilson, the head of the De
partment Of Agriculture, continues earn
est if not enthusiastic about the practica,
bility of putting into the pockets of the
farmers OF this country the $100,000,00t
that the people are now sending abroad
for their sugar. The more l think Of
this beet sugar business" said he, "ano
the more look into its vast possibilities
the more | am surprised that the Ameri
can people have been buying such quaint
ties abroad. There is really no more rea
son why we should buy sugar abroad thai
wheat. We have in this country land a
well adapted to the growth OF sugar beet
as anywhere in the world, and it is re
markable fact that our people have bee
so long in seeing the possibilities and pu
ting forward every effort toward the a,
compishment of this end. Sugar enter
into our consumption to such a large an
national extent that the triumph Of brini
ing about the growing of all our own pr
ducts in this direction would be no sma
one. The way in which the America
farmers are taking hold of it shows VIII;
comparatively easy matter 1t wou
nave Dceu III any TIME Oh ldlc ytulS W
tablish the industry on permanent basi
and as / say, it seems strange that ia
sighted men have not seen the advanta
to result to those successfully fostern
it. In my trip through the West l -four
farmers generally enthusiastic over I
subject, all OF them anxious, and hopi
that the analysis to be made of their bet
would show such a satisfactory perez
age Of sugar as to enable them to Mt on
enter into the growth Of the beet as
crop. In fact, the danger lies in ov'
enthusiasm; in the large outlay Of Nor
and establishment OF plants in sectid'~'
where the beet cannot be prohta'
grown.
"The Mckinley bounty on sugar v
operating well. and If it had contint
would have so encouraged both cane
beet sugar industries that we would,
this time, be quite Independent of fore
markets in this respect. The bounty !
posed for beet sugar in the Dingley tn
bill would have still further stimula
the industry but even as it is, bell
we are on the way TO seeing good az
ity Of sugar supplied from great m
points i'm the United States. The 81
beet thrives on variety Of soils, be
best adapted TO sandy loans Of mode
fertility, and | presume that reports
our analyses will show great areas in
rious sections Of the country capable
raising beets containing sufficient
centage OF saccharine matter to war
the building Of factories and the plan
OF large areas.
About 1900 Of the farmers of
country have grown beets for tests,
we are now receiving samples for al
| sis If everything goes right we will
complete report on the subject by
| first of the year. This will show the
| desirable sections for entering into
beet industry and will enable operf
to erect beet sugar rehneries with ~
| degree Of assurance that the industry
be success in their particular sectios:
"Any new crop which takes the -
of present crops, and thereby rec
| their acreage. tends to stimulate
prices received for those crops, by d
ishing their yield, and this is one o.
indirect ways in which n general Gu
! ton of the sugar beet will better the
dition Of the farmer. The saving of
| 100000 to the country will give
amount to labor. Sugar represents
almost entirely, from the growing o.
seed to the sugar barrel. The div
| cation of our industries to this eXten
have tendency to help the prices of
| crops.
"The production Of camphor," cont
the Secretary, "has been recently cal
my attention, and | think | see IN
connection another industry to be
oped and one especially advantagec
the South. We are gathering stat.
now in regard to the area in whio
tree will thrive. 1t is known to do We
Florida. In fact, there are now lie
State large trees which were sent
there from this department years {
little plants, intended then for shaC
ornament. but they have demons
clearly that the tree grows well inn
ida, and what | want is to see
groves planted on the rich hammock
bottoms OF the State, where the
very productive. but not safe fromS
for the growth OF oranges, lemons a.
more tropical products. Every part
camphor tree is now used in the G.
ton of this valuable gum; the
chips, the roots, everything.
camphor is now imported from N
East, and il we can keep this mo-
our own pocket. we are so much (
ter of. The South, especially, is i
of a Investigation OF crops, and
il will be found that the camphor
try will be practicable and profitai
GEO. MELV1l