BEET SUQAR. 33 



One of the etronj^est arguments in favor of beet culture is, that 

 to be successful, it leaves the soil in an improved condition, 

 especially for a grain crop to follow. Being a "hoed crop," the 

 soil must necessarily be kept mellov? and free from weeds ; and to 

 produce a paying crop, it must be very highly manured, which 

 leaves it in fine condition for a cvop of wheat. Another reason is, 

 that the growing of beets is specially adapted to secure the reten- 

 tion upon the farm of nearly all the elements removed from the soil 

 by the plant. The sugar which is extracted from the beet is 

 drawn largely from elements present in the air. If, therefore, thg 

 beet refuse or residuum left after manufacture is returned to the 

 soil, it loses but little of its fertility, and the next crop in rotation 

 finds ample sustenance. Again the forage is of great value as 

 stock food. The leaves are highly prized, especially for feeding 

 to rnilch cows, and the pulp or refuse of the rasped beets after 

 the juice is expressed is claimed to be a very rich food for cattle, 

 sheep, swine or fowl. The average amount of pulp or beet refuse 

 is some 20 per cent, of the original weight of the beet, and at the 

 beet sugar mills in Europe it sells at $2.50 per ton. 



Taking into consideration our present national condition, our 

 pleasant relations with sugar producing countries, and the cheap- 

 ness and facility with which cane sugar is produced and sold, I 

 am not sure as to the desirability or practicability of entering 

 upon the cultivation of beets and the manufacture of beet sugar 

 in Maine. If a change from our amicable relations with other 

 nations was imminent or even in the near future, it might become 

 a matter of more specific importance. 



It occurs to me that we have already with us and in our midst 

 in Maine, an industry productive of the same immediate results 

 which is vporthy of encouragement. I refer to the manufacture of 

 sugar from the sugar maple, which according to the figures above 

 given, yields only a little over one per cent, of the total sugar 

 products of the world, but which it seems to mo is cap'^ble of 

 being largely improved, enlarged and extended, especially in our 

 own State. The crop is a permanent one, no annual planting or 

 cultivation being required, only the harvest and the manufacture 

 of the product, and the market has never yet been overstocked. 

 We may safely predict that maple syrup and maple sugar will 

 command a remunerative price for years. I think this industry 

 worthy of more attention than has been bestowed upon it. 



