The record-union., 1897-02-07

Leave only one beet in one place, and
tfat the most vigorous one.
Keep weeds out entirely.
| Do not allow crust to form on top
| of the land after seeding or while the
beets are growing.
Continue to keep the soil loose by
drawing a cultivator between the rows
until the tops cover the ground.
Beets should ripen in from 12O to 160
days from the time of seeding.
When the outer leaves turn yellow
and die down, it is an Indication that
the beets are ripening or ripe.
In September of the same year, just
eight months after the notice in the
local paper, tests We're made by experts
sent from the Chino factory under an
arrangement by which the Chino fac
tory bought the product at price based
| uron saccharfne purity percentage. All
the beets that were sent ripe ran over
10 per cent, only three loads being
fraction below that per cent. The high
est average was 2305 per cent. sac
charine matter and the highest purity
was $500 per cent. The average per
cent. of saccharine matter was lS.2l
per cent, and the average purity So.oo
per cent, while the average weight OF
the beets was one and one-thlrd
pounds. None Of the beets that were
shipped ran below the per cent. re-
quired.
The farmers were permitted to bring
il their own samples and in many
cases the largest beets with the Whit
est skin were selected, and this is the
very beet that is the greenest and has
| the least saccharine matter, conse-
quently it is fair to state that the beets
ran a fraction higher than the tests
show. The average price for the entire
shipment was 81 10 per ton.
The average tonnage per acre was
not ascertained, but a close estimate
is made that it will run over seventeen
tons. In some cases over twenty-five,
while in some cases about twelve tons
were raised. All were surprised to learn
that such rich beets were raised with
SO little care and attention. Per cent. OF
sacCharine matter averaged o per cent.
higher and : per cent. higher in purity
and over three tons more per acre than
in Chino. This tells the story of beet
culture in California.
Thirty farmers experimental in differ
ent parts of the valley upon about lSD
acres in all. The result of this small
endeavor is that l 200 acres are now un-
der contract with the Chino factory to
be planted this season, and farmers have
also signed for 500 acres, agreeing to
plant for five years. The contract price
is So % per ton for beetS containing not
less than II per cent. sugar, and an ad-
ditional % cents per ton for every per
cent. of sugar in excess of II per cent.
AS the product will probably average 10
per cent, the price will be 81 per ton
A HARD BARGAIN.
This locality is 10 miles by rail from
Chino, and the average haul from the
farms to the railroad is ten miles; SO the
farmers will lose the cost Of hauling and
the railroad freight, a total loss of, say
| 81 per ton, or, on a product of 10000
tons they will be out S150,O0O in con-
sequence of not having a factory. The
contract is SO drawn that the Chino
Company has the first privilege of erect
ing q factory, and any outside party
contemplating starting one in that sec
tion will be deferred from so doing,
which is a misfortune to the farmers:
but in the enthusiasm of their success al
beet growing they have signed away the
chance of securing a factory at an ear
lier date than the Chino proprietors may
elect.
The farmers now knowing that they
can produce the raw material are virtu-
ally bowling for a factory, and those
already interested in the business and
knowing it's profits, have at present too
much on their hands; and those who
| have the capital are waiting for some
| one else to put the proposition on
dividend basis, when they will Of course
| stand in.
| POSSIBILITIES IN CALIFORNIA
CONSIDERED.
| The above is but tithe Of what can be
done, for there are numberless sections
| throughout the State that are equally
suitable for this undertaking Aside
| from the acreage already in beets, there
are 700 600 acres in California where
| soil, water etc, have been tested as to
their beetgrowing properties and pro-
| nounced absolutely suitable. and these
| all under cultivation would produce
| 1,500.0 600 tons of sugar worth at 31Ac
per pound say 500 100000. These fig
ures are startling but correct. California
with her 100000 acres of wheat has
| for years sold her entire wheat crop for
| $40 100000 The producer of cereals
has been, until the recent advance the
poorest man in the land; but what can
| he do with beets? He can put in $50 per
acre and he can take out $50. He can
even do much better, for we have testi-
mony of experience that beets can be
raised in California for $50 per acre.
HOW THE SUGAR IS MADE.
| For infoTma ton in regard to the
manufacture of beet sugar | prefer that
you visit the factory at Alvarado,
short journey, where IN few hours of
| interesting observation you viii learn
more than / can tell you. You will see
outside the factory long rows of COW
cred bins overlooking with headless
| beets. for the vegetable is decapitated
| in the field. Then as you enter the
| factory you will observe a very peculiar
and unpleasant odor to which you soon
| become accustomed and ere long are
deeply interested In the manufacture of
sugar, of which your guide will furnish
a description similar to the following:
The beets are first washed by ma
chinery in flowing water, and sliced
into a peculiar shape by rapidly re-
volving knives having futed edges
These ribands, called cosettes. are fed
into the diffusion battery, where the
process begins. This battery consists
of circle of twelve or fourteen cells.
resembling upright steam boilers, each
charged from the top and having ca
pacity OF ton of r5bands. After be-
ing charged water is admitted first into
one, then through an intervening heater
! into arother and so on l,ntil this wa