The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-16
SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY.
WHf "A FACTORY SHOULD DE ESTAB-
LISHED THIS err.
The State Board of Agriculture to Issue a
Statement Explaining the Favorable
Results Of Experiments In this State.

The State Board OF Agriculture mcs IN
qcarterly session at the State Library
BJilcing yesterday, which was perhaps
the most important gathering held Tor a
long time by that body. The topic OF The
greatest interest 10 all the members was
as 10 the advisability Of introducing the
sugar beet industry in this State. During
the summer rumber OF experiments
had been made in various sections OF the
! State by farmers who were supplied with
sugar beet seed with the proyiso that they
were 20 send SAMPLES Of their crops TO
the Department OF Agriculture.
over a hundred samples Of beets were
submitted and their analysis showed
some very satisfactory results. Inc
board therefore decided 10 have ali the
facts in relation to these experiments col
lected by a committee and pubisnea IN
an official statement 10 create general IN
terost in the Industry among the farmers
o. Virginia. 1t IL also very likely that
, the Legislature will be asked az inc
coming session 70 take proper steps so
as to induce the state 20 give some guar
antee that the necessary amount OF beets
be raised annually 10 justify the estao-
| lishment or a sugar beet factory IN or
near Richmond as a preparatory measure
! looking 10 u general introduction OF the
! beet culture in this state.
THE REPORTS READ.
Tho Board met shortly after IL O'Clock
| yesterday morning At the oihce OF
| Colonel Whitehead the commissioner OF
| Agriculture. i'm the State Library oulldlns
! this morning The following members
| We're present: COL 4. s. Buiord. chair
man: ana Messrs. w. w. Brand A j.
| McMath, r. ~ Mallory and ). r. keni-
| per. Mr.. Thomas III. Bigger acted rs
secretary
The consideration OF tho experiments
regarding the introduction Of sugar beet
industry IN Virginia was first taken mp
and several reports from farmers IN
various sections of the State as TO their
experience were read. They all speak OF
the high quality Of the SURROUNDING
! essentials found in the heets raised IN
this State.
On motion OF Mr. Brand the further
discussion Of the matter was postponed
until a full meeting Of the board can be.
obtained.
Colonel Whitehead presented the for
mular fOr crops. which ne had been IN
structod at tho last meeting OF the board
to prepare lie was authorized 10 publish
and distribute them as he thought best.
with the understanding however that
these formulas should also give the prices
Of the ingredients.
The reports Of the president and Of the
commissioner for the last three months
We're received and fled The commission
er's report showed that sugar beets can
be raised very successfully i'm Virginia.
The report showed the expenses of the
Board for that time to have been S2.i5S.sl,
which included the 81. 1856 expended on
the Department Of Fertilizer Control
In reference TO this part OF the depart
ments work the Commissioner says. This
quarter the work Of the Department OF
Fertilizer Control has been greater than
former years. completely occupying the
time Of the inspector, and bis samples and
the chemists. BY the advice of the
president I sent the field Inspector OF
fertilizers 10 as many as possible Of the
beet plots 10 examine them personally
and carefully report all they could ma
out"
The result Of these investigations were
conveyed 20 the Board in a lengthy re-
port from Or. Henry troehling, who made
the analysis, and reports from the two
inspectors who visited the farms of the
beet growers.
WISE SUGGESTIONS.
When the board Teconvened in the af-
ternoon Major o. l.. Hine, of the Eighth
District. put in his appearance The first
business taken mp was the report Of the
Finance Committee. 1t was presented by
Mr. r. NJ Mallory, Of tn Fourth District,
and stated that the accounts of the De
partmnent of Agriculture are correct. The
report was received and filed.
The discussion of the question as 20
the introduction Of sugar beet industry
was then taken up and Colonel Buford
again read from his report. which he
had presented in the morning, what he
had TO say on the subject IL contained
practically the same statement as that
in the annual report Of Commissioner
Whitehead.
Colonel whitehead then read that por-
tion Of his report and furnished the board
With some additional statements on the
subject. which We're highly interesting.
lie advocated that the Legislature De re-
quested TO pass the necessary laws so
that a sufficient number Of convicts could
De employed IN the raising Of sugar beets.
so that a sufficient amount of beets could
be guaranteed annually TO Justify the es-
adjustment Of a sugar factory in Rich-
mond or its vicinity.
Colonel Whitehead also suggested that
the facts brought out In this years ox-
pertinent Of raising sugar beets be coll
lected and published I'm a circular 20 be
sent out broadcast On order that the
tAA liifl1 hA tAin NAAAF might become gem
orally interested In the cultivation oil SUI
gar becfs
After q good deal Of discussion. II was
decided that a committee, consisting OF
ColSonel A. S. Buford. Mr. A. j. ATcMath.
and Major o. Z. Hine. prepare such a
statement and the same published
through the Commissioner Of Agriculture.
SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY.
As 10 the introduction OF sugar beet in
dustry into Virginia. the Commissioner
says In his report:
The cultivation Of the sugar beet and
the establishment ~ factories here lad
the earnest attention Of the board and the
department, and their action has excited
considerable interest among The farmers
IN all sections Of the State Under the
direction Of the board. had imported for
the department over 800 pounds of sugar
beet seed Of the two best reported varie-
ties and distributed them 20 one hundred
and sixty farmers on their promises 70
plant and cultivate them according tot
plans sent them. and make report. send
Ing samples OF the beets for analysis
THE board directed the purchase OF a
beet pulp machine and employed Dr.
Henry Froehling. distinguished chen fst.
10 make the analysis Tor the department
The pulp machine was imported from
Germany Tree of duty. being for the State.
ana Or. Froehling has been busy ut work
from the first ripenlne of the beets.
"Uaaccustomed 10 the cultivation OF
bects FOR sugar ard only used 10 their Gull
tivation for food. for market or for cat