Evening star., 1897-04-15
BEET SUGAR FARMING
The Agricultural Department Distributing
Seed in Available Territory.
Capital Ready to Put I'm Plants
Wherever the Supply of Deets
Can He Raised.


| brsily engaged in sending out beet seed to
be tried by farmers of the country, to see
If their land is adapted for growing beets
containing saccharine matter, to make the
Industry profitable on their farms.
All the seeds distributed by the depart
| ment have been imported, over half of the
quantity on hand having been presented
for distributing by Henry T. Oxnard of
Nebraska. The balance of the seed was
purchased by the department The entire
orantity distributed is about five tons and
farmers applying for them are given from
ore-half pound to two pounds each with
which to experiment Quotas of seed for
distribution throughout the states were
sent to experimental stations In Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Missouri. Nebraska,
New York, Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming,
Arizona, Kansas. Iowa, Wisconsin. Colo
RADIO, South Dakota, Idaho, Pennsylvania
and New Mexico. All applications for seed
coming to the department from these
ton within the state. :smhere the order is
filed Orders from other. states are filled
directly by the department here.
How Tests MlH BE Made.
The department does not recommend the
planting of seed in hily and rocky soil, but
suggests light, sandy loan, fairly rich
as likely to give the best results, and as
rule it is not believed that warm climates
will be favorable to the growing of beets
Farmers are recommended to select twen-
ty-five pounds of the product of their culti-
walton and send the same to their state ex-
pertinent station, where they will be tested
If they yield more than Il per cent of sac
char1ne matter their cultivation will be re-
garded as profitable, but If they anayze
Ielow that standard, the farmers will be
advised not to attempt to cultivate the
beetS on their ground.
This work of experiment is for the pur-
pose of determining in what localities it
will be profitable to locate plants for re-
ceiving the beets ard eextracting Ihe sac
charine matter from them. Capitalists are
row ready to establish such plants in any
location where it is shown that beets can
be grown with a sufficient yield of sweets
to make the industry profitable. The fur
ther development of the culture of beets
among the farmers will be secured after
the factory is established, as it is believed
that when once 1t is shown that a certain
section Of country will support such an in
dustry proftably there will be no difficulty
in inducing the farmers to take hold of it.
Hopeful Outlook.
At present there is great deal of en-
thusiasm in the experiment stations and
among farmers Of the country, especially
in the northwest. In Missouri a very spe-
cial effort is being made by agriculturalists-
~ thoroughly eStdDllSA the Ueet INDUSTRY.
The time for planting is now at hand. and
it Is said at the Department of Agricul-
ture that perhaps never in the history of
that institution was there SO much en-
thusiasm over an effort to establish a new
industry for the farmers of the country as
is now being shown. Thousands of farm
ers will this spring sdetermine whether
their land is suitable for beet culture and
II 1t Is shown to be- sQsit Is believed that
they will readily plant beets as soon as
there Is 4 factory conveniently located to
receive them. 1t is said that the prevail
ing hard times among the farmers Is an
additional reason why they should show
the enthusiasm that Is being developed. be-
cause 1t promises them an additional in
come. -
Virginia and Maryland Eligible.
Not only does this industry bring pros
perity to the farmers but it is extremely
desirable, al 1t will distribute many thou
sands of dollars in the iron and building
trades, as each plant will represent an ex-
penditure Of s204eo9, The farmers are be-
ing told that not only will they receive this
additional income from the culture of their
beets. but that al sfakners living in the
nefghborhood- Of pfaxt$ that are to be es-
tablished will have E4e advantage OF an
additional denaud fefs their products. which
VIII result, frons The: dfrge humber of en-
. Virginia and Maryland afe among the
most southern stafes. that are regarded as
giving great hope sfor The culture of beets-
for sugar. Peoplesin' other OF these states
who wish to see what N1eir land will yield
can get quota dt beet, seed by Sendin to
the Agriculturla DEPARTMENT.