The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-03-17

Perhaps there is no one subject in
teresting all sections of the country
as much as that relating to sugar.
over half the States during the
past year, either under State super
vision or that of the general govern
ment. or both have made tests
The narrow band of 200 miles map
ped out by the government expert
many years ago as being capable of
producing beet sugar has broadened
to 400 miles or more and tests this
present year are to be made still
further South. There seems to be no
reason given why the sugar beet can
not be grown further South than Vir-
ginia as successfully as other beets
Perhaps the longer season and
warmer climate may give better
practical results south of Virginia
than have been developed in New
York or Michigan. which this year
are the banner States. the tests on
an average both of these States show
ing l6 to II per cent. of sugar with
co-efficient of purity of 80 to 90 de-
grees.
Tests have been made from year to
year in these two States for several
years with constantly increased
value OF the beet. This years tests
in these States have been made under
the most favorable conditions. Tests
made at the beginning were no more
favorable than the average results
made this year in Virginia, when for
the first time the State took the
matter in charge, but with no expe-
rience.
This years tests in Virginia give
13 to II per cent. of sugar in bccts
with 80 to 50 degrees purity, exceed
ing those of Utah, where beet sugar
has been made successfully for sew
eral years. SO it may be that with
more experience. and under culture
like that given in New York and
Michigan, the results will equal or
exceed those of the Northern States.
The time Of seeding and harvesting
the hects must vary with the latitude
and climate where grown. This has
not been followed in the South. Nor
will this years tests in the South be
under the best conditions. as the
ground was not fcrtilizcd and sub
soiled last fall for this years crop of
beet. These two points are all i'm
portant for good results -fertiliza-
ton, six months or year before
sowing to avoid impurities in the
beet, making available large per
cent. of the total sugar in the beet
subsoiling. to retain supply of
water. heavily charged with ammonia,
to hasten its growth, and before the
dry season arrests its develop
ment.
The sugar beet supplied with a
large supply of water at the outset
conserves the moisture better than
any other plant, if seeded in rows
sixteen inches to eighteen inches
apart, with single beets left standing
+ in the rows six inches to eight inches
apart for the leaves soon spread and
/ protect the entire ground from the
suns rays. Till this is done frequent
shallow cultivation of the gtound also
, conserves the moisture.
Failure to get good results in Vir-
=
to one or two causes. which can be
overcome without difficulty. The
first is Indifference and neglect by
the farmer. who prepares his land
shallow, neglects to thin the crop
and remove the weeds when the
fourth leaf appears on the beet, with
infrequent and deep cultivation. An
e f,il 81,
farmers who think they can improv,
on the methods pursued by the two
most successful scientific nations OF
farmers on the globe, where they
have grown bcets for nearly a cen
turv and where over half the sugar
Of the world is produced. To deviate
the least from their methods is to in
vite failure
The problem now is how to secure
factories and how to get supply OF
beets that will warrant spending
$3.50, 900 to $500, 900 in factories. The
farmer is asked to take hold Of a new
crop, concerning which he knows lit
tie or nothing, using new methods,
for beet-growing is more gardening
than farming. 1t is intensive culture.
something (outside Of truck farming,
the Southern farmer knows little
about. 1t requires painstaking care
He has never seen the crop grown.
! His knowledge is hearsay mainly.
Someone must get down on his mar
row bones to properly care for the
crop, in place Of riding horseback or
or on a plow.
The blacks Of the South now own
numerous small farms, taught to do
all kinds of work and anxious to learn
! and increase their means. Their
families are large. From these and
the poorer white population is to
come the work that will make sue
cessful beet culture prominent in the
South.
The problem now confronting the
beet. sugar industry most is the an
nexation of Hawaii, where coolie la
bor is used at *3 per month. With
annexation. We cannot expect beet
sugar to thrive for the next twenty
tive years, possibly it may defer it
indefinitely. Capitol will not be put
in beetsugar factories as long as this
annexation scheme is pending. and
SO the production Of beet sugar in
the South cannot take place for many
! wears, if annexation takes place,
white consumers will continue to pay
twice the cost and we will tax our
selves over =, 900. 900 yearly for the
/ benefit Of few adventurers in Hawaii
and these workmen.
The present reciprocity treaty is
the cause Of it. Annexation is to
perpetuate the evil. II behoovos
every citizen not hypaotized with
ngoism to post himself and then