The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-05
DISCUSS SUGAR BETS.
THE CONTENTION ~ PETERsBUR0
WELL ATTENDED.
Cssnsaissioaer Whitehead Gives Valuable
Snformstsea- Beet seed Fres-Farm-
srs Pledged to Raise Them,

PETERSBURG. VA. Jan. Especial
The Farmers Convention to discuss sugar
keet culture opened this morning In the
,arlor of the Young Mems Christian As
Notation. Mr.. James BeIlwood. OF Drew
US Bluff. introduced Major Charles +.
foiler. who extended to the farmers
rordial welcome.
Nj James Bellwood next addessed the
convention.
MIR Bellwood declared that ,he farmers
x.cre running no risk TO embark IN TINS
Enterprise. The Atlantic Coast Line have
aid that II We will place the factory on
;heir lines they win carry the bcots at
,cry low price indeed.
FREE SEED.
Nj h. Y. Calvert. private secretary TO
United states Commissioner OF Agricui-
me. was next introduced.
lie told the convention that the 'o"-
missioner OF Agriculture had determined
Co send free Of charge through the mails
sntc,r beet seed TO the farmers through
snf The limited states to the edge of the
Gulf Tor them TO experiment WIN. -
those who wish TO experiment win thesc
seed viii only send 10 the Department. ga
Agriculture at Washington they VIII moi
only xct the seed. hut viii receive a."
desired information on the subject ,s
me next socakcf introduced. lie read
PAPER on best methods OF cultvating anu
Colonel Whitehcad. Commissioner or
Agriculture Of Virginia. was next lh1lo
duccd ana gave much valuable lhloih'1.
ton concerning the practical part Vi
eugar-bect raising in Virginia
COLONEL WHITEHEAD.
colonel Whitehead stated that a sugar
beet factory would cost about sIoV,Vvv
You put factory here. ana lnere wiz NC
%
hurg. What would IL be TO petersburg 10
spend $1,000 To erect sugar-beel IaS,
tory here and have n sugar rehner! anu
have your merchants buying their susa'
pnei with teots raised by the farmers
around Petersburg. Commissioner "hl'c-
head thought the lands of Virginia were
rs well adapted to the growing OF srEai-
hects as any land IN the country. WIN
the difference in the cost OF laoor tne ne
suear-beet crop declared the speaker IL
a better one than tobacco.
PENIrENTlAkl FARM.
Mr. Bellwood said that the pcnltentlary
farms have agreed TO raise from Np "
90 acres Of sugar beeis I'm case the lac.
tory is built MIR. Beilwood stared tna. ,
The cost OF n factory and refinery would
he about S400.ODi. The factory would nave
a capacity Of $50 tons per day.
pr .;eorCe Potts was the next speaker.
lie said that he had just as Wen pu'
himself up 10 be snot AT ana theh III
nrouosad factory would be located. MI.
ReIwood said that there was some saIk
az locating II OIL James river. Dr. fotts
esid ne was an Engllshman, nut ne hau
resided here in Petersburg Tor the pas'
twenty-fiye years. lie had for some tlne
past been engaged in the raising OF ,hs
sugar beet. In some locahues ne htu
found that the sUSd: DeetS are the Us
that can be raised lie did not thlnH
there was any country that could RAISE
es pretty beets as we can. lie Sald IL
suear-beet factory was built mere IN re
iersburg II would be Literally pauoih1Vl
BY the farmers ..,...>,,,,,
MIR. Redwood said ne had no Objection
70 the factory being estaDhsnyu ei ,de,or rl
Richmond or petersburg. Inc factor
would be built where the most encourage
,nent was given. lie did not think thtS
could make any promises where the lac-
tory would be located. trat. said ne, must
ne lett in the hands OF those VINO Dullu
H. Mr.. Bellwood stated that they would
continue to hold their meetings up ana
dowI the James river. on each size.
Tho following pledge was clrcuialeu
among the members OF the convention
We the undersigned. hereby SIGNIFY
our Willingness TO enter into a cOnttdC'
10 plant the number OF acres OF lanu
SET opposite our name in sugar beets
under instructions furnished us by a
responsible manufacturer, VINO VIII agree
10 purchase the product OF SAID acteast
AT a schedule of prices 10 De agreed upon
We would he willing 90 sign satisfactory
y contracts for planting beets for tern
OF three years. provided We are guarah-
teed a market for the product.
The pledge received some few sigma
lures.
The convention adjourned at 3 4. NJ.