The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-02-10
FARUlERS HEET HERE.

Commissioner of Agriculture G. W. Koine
Makes an Address A Letter From u S.
Secretary James wilson Read Guests
Entertained at the Exchange Hotel.
The farmers meeting in the interes
of sugar beet culture was held at th'
court. house. in this city. yesterday al
liam. While the attendance was moi
as large as expected. there were a6ou
100 present. They were mostly from
the five counties Immediately arounc
Fredericksburg. Very few from alonG
the Rappahanuock river were present
The meeting was opened by Presiden
I. n. Brent. of the Business Men
Association. who explained the objec
of the gathering. State Comm issionel
of Agriculture g. W. kOiner was intro
duced and made an address, showing
the advantages that would accrue to th'
farmers in beet culture He urged the
importance Of the object for which the
meeting WAS called, and that besides
the profit to the farmers In beets
the building of factory here
! would employ larger amount OF labor
which would give them an additional
source Of profit and make market foT
| their various products. lie spoke OF
the beet for livestock feeding. that the
taking Of the sugar from the pulp di-
miuished but lItlle its feeding value,
and explained how more beef cattle dairy
COWS. sheep and hogs could be raised
| 10 advantage where there was beet Gull
tigation. 1t would lead to the estab-
| lshment Of dairies. An increase In the
number Of hog, sheep. cattle, etc. lie
mentioned that az factory out west
ZOO COWS were kept from the pulp OF
one factory lie named feeder who
had put 3 pounds day on beef cat =
tie fed only with pulp. and ? pound
per day on sheep with the same Feed
! ing; that the raising Of beets dimln-
ishes very lutte the fertility Of the soil
that the thorough cultivation Of the
land required in beet culture rather
| improved it; that in sections where
| factories have been established the value
of real estate has been enhanced. lie
closed by saying that this was the golden
opportunity for the farmers OF this Sec
tlon and they should not let 1t slip.
The following article on sugar beet
culture. prepared by Hon James VII
son. Secretary Of Agriculture, at Wash
.ngton, for this meeting, was read by
| Secretary Il W Stearns:
The growing Of sugar beets by the
farmer is perfectly safe proposition,
if he does not grow more than he could
pos-iblv feed to his stock. because, in
Mi countries f the world, where farm
ing is we'll understood, ard the most
ismade out Cf the land ard the animals
roots are grown 10 feed TO young AMI
mails. breeding stock, dairy stock, and
| fatteuing animals | have often grown
! from five 10 ten acres Of roots for the sole
purpose Of feeding them 10 animals on
the farm Consequently there Is no
danger whatever IN growing from hVe
10 ten acres Of sugar beets The worst
that could happen TO the farmer would
be some failure IN the sugar beet fac-
tory. In that event he could feed his
crop and when fed 10 the dairy COW
they are grateful 20 her inducing a
liberal flow Of milk. cOl0rlng the butter
and lmparting no bad volatile acid.
Where the sugar beet is sold TO the
factory and the by-?roduct brought
home and fed to the dairy cow, II Is
the most profitable agriculture of which
| have any knowledge
"After the sugar has been taken trc IN
the beet. tho by.prCduct, or pulp con-
tains everything the cow requires, so
that the money received from the sugar
factory Is the profit OF the operation.
In many Of the countries Of the world
roots are grown TO be feed to the dairy
COW Where the carbonaceOus matter
# those roots can be sold TO a sugar
factory and the residue fed 10 the dairy
c1w. the greatest possible profit ensues
The carb0naceOus matter that is taken
ont Of the beets 10 make the sugar, is
not needed by the COW she gets that
element in the corn, corn fodder, tim
othy hay and other roughage so that
feeding the carbOnaCeOus matter that
is found in the sugar beet TO the dairy
COW simply gives her more OF that ele-
ment than is necessary. Feeding the
by-product (pnlp) Of the sugar factory
on the farm, will TO great extent ob'
viate the necessity for purchasing mill
feeds. because after the carbonaceous
matter has been removed TO make sugar ,
the residue is highly heterogeneous.
Il believe that where farmers once
get into the habit of growing roots for
domestic animals. the process will be
continued year after year. even If there
were no opportunity TO sell the carbon
aceous matter 90 sugar factory but
where the factory is willing TO pay so
much a ton for the carb0naceous matter
{ the beets, with which tOmake sugar 4,
the farmer retaining the by product. II
is the most profitable agriculture with
which / am acquainted.
Mr.. st Geo r. Fitzhugh explained
the nature Of the contracts required and
appealed 10 the farmers to change their
pres sent mode of farming In cultivating
crops. saving that the West raises them
cheaper than we do.
On motion Of Mr.. A z. Rowe, Jr,
one farmer from each Of the SIX surround
ing counties was appointed a commit
tee. in conjunction with the Business
Men, Association. to examine into the
bond TO be given by the sugar beet com
pany to the farmers. The commit
tee is as follows:
Stafford Is O. PeytOn.
Spotsylvania-M B Rowe.
O8roline- VIM Sale.
Orsnge-J l. Davis.
Culpeper-J. O. Porter.
King George-J ]. Sale.
A number of farmers signed the
contracts, the number If acres named
ranging from one to twenty.
The conference then adjourned, and
all present repaired to the Exchange
Hotel, where about 100 farmers and
business men enjoyed an excellent din
ner