VEGETABLES. 3821 
SUGAR BEET. 
(A DISCUSSION.) 
Mr. Wm. Danforth: I have a report from three growers, 
who received some of the seeds of the sugar beet that were ais- 
tributed by the Agricultural College. I understand that Mr. 
Phinney has made a test with the following result: Three 
hundred and fifty-six pounds of sugar to two thousand pounds 
of beets. As nearly as we can estimate it, there were twenty-one 
tons of beets to the acre. The ground on which the beets were 
grown was pasture ground, broken up and gotten into condi- 
tion in order to test the seeds and get the best result. The 
ground was very rich, and these seeds were sown in rows about 
eighteen inches apart and well cared for. Mr. C. A. Sargent, 
had two hundred and seventy-two pounds, and I got two hund- 
red and forty pounds of sugar for every two thousand pounds 
of beets. Thesoil on which I planted them was sandy, and had 
been cultivated for twenty or twenty-five years. It is the very 
poorest ground I have. We have therefore tried both extremes. 
of soil. Now, if we can get people enough interested in 
raising them to insure a sufficient quantity for manufactur- 
ing, there will be no trouble in establishing a manufactory. 
We ought to bring this matter before the people as soon as. 
possible, so that, if it proves practicable, we can procure the 
necessary establishment, and raise and manufacture our 
own sugar. Everybody says that sugar is too cheap to 
raise, and that we don’t know what our government will do, 
but in all events we ought to get this information before the 
people, and thoroughly understand it ourselves, so that,if there 
is anything to be made out of it, we can carry it on ourselves. 
President Underwood: Will it pay the producer to raise 
the beets? 
Mr. Danforth: Well, I think I can raise beets as cheaply as 
I can corn. 
Mr. Sampson: How many pounds of sugar will a ton of 
beets make? 
Mr. Danforth: You can make 350 pounds of sugar from a 
ton of beets. 
Dr. Frisselle: What do they get a ton for the beets? 
Mr. Danforth: They brought $3.50 a ton last year in ‘Ne- 
braska, and the California factory paid from $3.50 to $4.50. 
ei 
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