The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-01-19
PROFITS IN BEET SUGAR,
Plans for Establishing the Industry in the
Cumberland Valley.
PRACTICAL TALK TO FARMERS.

Publicity was last night given by
Frank c. Bosler, of Carlisle, before the
Farmers Institute for Philadelphia
County in Horticultural Hall, to plans
which have been far advanced for the cre-
alton Of great beet sugar industry in
the Cumberland Valley, Gays a writer in
the Sundays Philadelphia Record II
they are carried through TO the success
which he predicts, there will be sort Of
revolution in farming in that locality,
which will extend to other parts Of the
State. He stands ready, with associates,
10 put up factory for making beet sugar,
which will cost about S300OO0, provided
the farmers will cooperate in raising
enough beets Of the right quality. This,
he declares, they can easily do, at profit
far above that which they now derive
from their ands.
For a period Of more than two years
Mr.. Bosler las been making a practical
study Of the beet sugar business in all its
aspects. LAST Summer he had a score OF
farmers in lse Cumberland Valley grow
ing beets as an experiment, and the re-
suits were decidedly satisfactory. The
average yield of beets grown from the
best seed, ranged from 10 to IA tons per
acre, and the percentage Of sugar in them
ran high, as proven by analysis at the
State Agricultural Experiment Station.
AS final test of the quantity and quail
ity Of the beets that can be raised, 500
farmers have agreed each to plant an acre
or more with them the coming season,
and the outcome will be watched with
great interest The territory in which
the trials are TO be made includes parts of
Cumberland, Franklin, Adams and
Dauphin counties. Samples of the crop
from every farm will be analysed by the
State Agricultural authorities, and the
bulk Of the experiment beets will be fed
TO cattle, so that the growers will sustain
no loss. When the value of the industry
has been made evident to all parties, the
erection of the factory will be begun.
The farmers will sign contracts to plant
1000 or 5000 acres with beets to keep the
factory going.
In explaining his plans TO the Institute
Mr.. Bosler said: THE farmers Of the
| United States are now raising wheat at
small profit for export, while much OF
the sugar they use is brought from other
countries. A large proportion of it Is beet
sugar, which comes from Germany. Su-
gar beets can be grown almost anywhere.
but last year only 4O,6O0 tons OF beet su-
gar out Of total OF ZOO, 600 tons Of sugar
used in this country was produced with
in its boundaries.
ONLY ONE FACTORY IN THE EAST.
''There are nine factories to make it in
the United States, all of them ia the
west, hut one, which was recently estsb-
lished with success in New York.
American methods Of extracting the su-
gar are great improvements over those OF
Germany, and the cost of manufacture
has been reduced 20 a minimum. The
process. simply stated, is to cleanse the
beets, slice them and then put them in
very hot water under great pressure
The syrup which results is purified
bleached and evaporated. The pulp re
naming is excellent food for cattle.
"The fact that the business must b
conducted on large scale is due to thu
very expensive character of the necessa
~ machinery. A complete outfit cost
about 100000. and TO supply factory 81
fitted up there should be about 700 Il
5000 acres planted in beets. The hequantity
usually to be grown is from 10 TO 20 tom
} an acre, and the lowest price paid is 81 1
ton.
IAN essential is that the seed planted
shall be the right kind 10 produce beet
} with a high percentage Of sugar and L
per cent. by weight is good average
} We do not merely want tons of beets bu
beets containing tons of sugar. AnOthe
, thing of importance in considering tn
matter is that beet crop is not exhaust
ing to the soil. The elements of the su
gar are taken mostly from the air ano
water. The tops are thrown back on tn
: land and the pulp returns through th
/ cattle"