The times., 1899-06-13
THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.
Statistics SempiIed by the Depart
mcnt OF Agriculture


A public document treating on one Of
Americas comparatively new agricultural
Industries has Just been issued. 1t is en-
titled Progress OF the Beet Sugar indus
try In the United States in 1895" The
document contains over lse pages OF infor-
nation and statistics. complied by the De-
partment of Agriculture, and transmitted
to Congress by the President
The report is divided into two parts.
The first part gives a general survey of
the field and practical operations both In
the production OF bee,s and in the manu-
faeture OF sugar. This portion OF the re-
port was prepared by Mr. Charles F. SAY
lor, special agent of the Department OF
Agriculture.
The operations OF all completed factories
are summarized, their successes and fail
pres are noted. and their experiences in
dealing with obstacles are recounted. A
survey OF prospective developments is also
included. In which are noted the efforts
oelhS made to establish factories at var
ious points and the prospects OF success.
special attention Is called to the interest
Oh farmers. cattle feeders and dairymen
N the use OF pulp as a food for animals
Farmers are also strongly advised to try
the experiment Of raising sugar beets for
stock-feeding purposes
In chapter devoted to Porto Rico is
shown the probable effect OF competition
between the producers OF beet sugar in
this country and the producers OF cane
sugar in that island.
Inc second part, prepared by DR.. H. ".
Wiley. chemist of the Department OF Agri-
culture, presents the chemical data Sc
cured by the analyses in the Division of
chemistry OF sugar beets received from the
various parts of this country
The seeds from which the beets were
grown were distributed by the Department
OF Agriculture in the spring OF 1898 Each
person receiving seeds was supplied with
printed Instructions for planting the seeds
cultiyating the beets and harvesting them
and for sending samples for analysis.
The chemical data are supplemented By
a brief discussion taken from the reports
I received from each State. These data
show that the previous Investigations made
under the supervision of the chemist re-
specting theSareas most suitable for the
culture of beets are fully corroborated. The
investigations have now proceeded far
enough to enable us to determine with
some degree Of accuracy the localities
where sugar-beet culture is destined to be
most successful. IL is seen that the Pa
cific coast still holds the leading place in
equally favorable areas are presented by
Michigan, New York. and a few other
| States in the northern and eastern portions
OF the country.
In the arid regions the areas suitable
for beet culture have been partially map
ped out. without reference however. 10
the availability OF water for irrigation pur-
poses. 1t has been demonstrated that
where irrigation can be carried on there
are large areas in the arid regions where
beets OF superior excellence can be pro-
duced- Investigations have further shown
that the limits OF successful beet culture
can only IN exceptional instances be pushed
south OF the isotherm representing a mean
temperature Of Il degrees for the months
OF June, July. and August
The increase in the use of sugar In this
| country is discussed in the opening chap
ter OF the document. 1t says:
"A study OF the increase in the utiliza
| tion of sugar is very interesting 1t is ap-
parent to those who are making q careful
study of statistics with reference to the
commercial growth OF commodities and an
analytical investigation OF their various
uses. direct and indirect. that the increase
IN the use Of sugar in cur country by far
exceeds the increase in population. The
| average gain in consumption for the last
twenty-three years has been about 10 Der
i
ton in less than ten years. While the ex-
act rate OF increase OF our population can
not be given, it can hardly be estimated
at above per cent annually.
/ The object Of this report is to offer en-
couragement and information regarding the
rise and development OF the beet sugar in
dustry in this country. Since there is no
market in the world equal TO our own. and
we are supplying a very small proportion
n
nome demand in order to get an intelligent
idea OF the future consumption of sugar in
this country. In the first place we must
take into account the demand for this ar
tlcie Tor daily use as a part of our food "a
| tion. There is hardly one of the Il, COO 0U0
Inhabitants in this country that does uot
use sugar to some extent as part OF his
! daily food. 1t is both a luxury and ne
eessity, and as our people are becoming
gradually better fixed financially. there is
an increasing tendency toward luxury"
+ In a study of the conditions reauIsite for
growing sugar beets. the nature OF the soil,
moisture. temperature. and light are the
main features to be considered The soil
| for sugar beets should be naturally Of a
| light. friable kind-such as sandy loans.
| clay loans with sand. and soils which per-
init easily of cultivation and penetration
! 1t must be especially remembered that
sirable. Hardpan is out Of the question.
/ The subsoil is OF as much importance as
| the top soil, if not more. In the rext
| place the sugar beet should go down deep
/ into the subsoil. In general way 1t may
| be stated that a soil is desirable that is
! opposite in character to the hard clay
| soils and black, mueky, waxy soils.
Sugar beets will stand more moisture
| and get along with less OF it than almost
nfh fhar- fa1H
| ment is technically true. it must be taken
with the following explanation: The sugar
| beet plant at its beginning is one Of the
most delicate among the field crops. Wheat.
corn, or almost any OF the cereals sown
I in a dry time will wait for moisture and
! when it comes will germinate and start
| off apparently not so much affected on ac-
I count of this period of drought. 1t is not
I so with the sugar beet II is likely to
I dry out. and the germ is liable to be kill
ed if anything like this happens. It is also
/ in jeopardy if planted during or just be-
| fore a period of continued damp. cold
| weather. The necessary condition Is that
| the beet seed should have sufficient mois-
4 ture and sufficient warmth to germinate
| it and start IL. After it has become a
! plant of three or four leaves it is ready
| TO cope with the other field crops in stand
! ing excesses of different kinds. During
| the next two or three months excess OF
| moisture does not affect it seriously: it
will grow and develop. At the close of this
1 period of growth the beet is said to have
matured as 10 its form and size. The
| next thing that is necessary is an elabora-
! ton of the sugar in the beet. Through
| August September, and October the least
| moisture possible is the thing to be de-
! sired for the sugar beet Here comes in
! the application of the statement that 1t