172 CULTURE OF THE SUGAR BEET. 



and that if sufficient quantity could be obtained for work in the factory the enter- 

 prise could be carried on with profit to all concerned. They, therefore, proceeded to 

 make arrangements for securing the machinery and apparatus necessary for work- 

 ing 150 tons of roots in 24 hours, and roots sufficient to supply a factory of this 

 capacity. The process for extraction adopted is Robert's diffusion process, for which 

 the apparatus of the most approved patterns, and with the latest improvements, was 

 purchased at Halle in Germany. The works are adapted to the extensive buildings of 

 the Forest City Sugar Refinery, and the glass-house adjoining, and will be ready for 

 active work by the middle of October. It was proposed to make use of the vaults of 

 the glass-house as a place for storage of roots during the winter, but upon later con- 

 sideration, this, it was thought, would be found impracticable on account of the 

 danger of collecting too large a quantity of roots in a single mass, and subjecting 

 them in this way to the possibilities of heating, sprouting, or decay, and consequent 

 loss in their sugar content. Arrangements will, therefore, be made with the farmers 

 for storing the roots in trenches and delivering them as they may be needed. 



As before stated, the German method for obtaining supplies, that of purchasing 

 large areas of ground to be devoted to the culture, was considered impracticable on 

 account of the large investment of capital involved, and the method followed by the 

 French, though somewhat modified, has been adopted. The company appointed 

 agents to call upon the farmers and make contracts with them for the roots produced 

 on a given area, to be delivered either at the factory or the nearest shipping point. 

 In this way contracts were made with about 1,700 farmers for the roots of 1,250 acres 

 of land. When the agent of the company made the contract he delivered to the farmer 

 the quantity of seed desired, to be paid for in the fall in beets from the crop produced. 



The following are the forms of contracts employed in all the dealings with the 

 farmers : 



P. O., Me., , 1879. 



I agree to raise for the Maine Beet Sugar Company acre- of sugar-beets from 



seed furnished by them, and to deliver the beets next fall on the cars at rail- 

 road station for five dollars per ton of 2,240 pounds of unwashed beets, as they come 

 from the field. 



[George S. Hunt, president ; Henry B. Blackwell, treasurer ; Ernest Th. Gennert, secretary and gen- 

 eral superintendent.] 



Office Maine Beet Sugar Company, 



Portland, Me., , 1879. 



We agree to buy of all the sugar-beets raised by him on acre— 



from seed furnished by us, and to pay for the beets cash on delivery on the cars at 



railroad station next fall, five dollars per ton of 2,240 pounds of unwashed beets 



as they come from the field. 



MAINE BEET SUGAR COMPANY, 

 Per , Agent. 



$ .] P. O., Me., , 1879. 



For value received in sugar-beet seed, I promise to pay the Maine Beet Sugar Com- 

 pany, or order, in October next, dollars and — cents in cash, or in sugar beets 



at the rate of five dollars per ton of 2,240 pounds of unwashed beets delivered on the 

 cars at railroad station. 



The company agreed to pay $5 per ton for the roots delivered at the nearest shipping 

 point (railroad station or wharf), and made arrangements with the freight agents at 

 different points to receive, acknowledge, and forward the roots to the factory. If they 

 be delivered by the farmer directly to the factory, the price paid is $6 per ton. The 

 quantity delivered directly will, however, be small. The companies governing the 



