384 TRA.NSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



facture of beet root sugar; and I introduced to the club Mr. E. 

 B. Grant, who has visited the principal beet sugar establishments 

 in Europe. 



Mr. E. B. Grant. — I beg to present to the club some beautiful 

 specimens of beet sugar made in Illinois. I believe that one ton 

 of sugar like this sample could be produced in Illinois, which, at 

 present prices, is worth $350. An acre of beets will produce as 

 much sugar as an acre of cane, and can be cultivated and worked 

 up in half the time. Wherever wheat and corn grow, the beet 

 does well. It is adapted to all the Northern States. Beets richest 

 in sugar, so far as he had experimented, were grown five and a 

 half miles from the City Hall, at Hackensack ; the yield was 17^ 

 per cent. Of refining sugar, that from the beet will produce 22 

 per cent more than from cane. However, the molasses from beet 

 sugar is not fit for use, and is made into alcohol ; but the pulp is 

 valuable for feeding stock, while the refuse of cane is worthless. 

 At the present price for labor, beet sugar can be made for six 

 cents a pound. This supposes the perfection of machinery and 

 the successful operation of the works, which is solely a question 

 of mechanical business. 



Mr. J. C. Thompson said he could raise forty tons of beets to the 

 acre, and, by extra pains, fifty tons. One should begin early, and 

 plant two feet each way. He could show a medal received from 

 the American Institute as a premium for the largest crop of beets 

 grown in this country. Some weighed thirty pounds. This crop 

 was o;rown on Staten Island. Whether such large beets are better 

 for sugar than smaller ones, may be a question. 



The chairman thought the prospect before us a bright one. 

 There is no reason why American enterprise should not equal the 

 European, and when we make not only our own sugar, but all our 

 clothing, iron, and every species of manufactured goods, we will 

 be a happy people. 



French's American Corn Husker and Picker Combined. 

 This machine was exhibited before the Club, and corn on the 

 stalk was husked in a satisfactory manner. The stalk with the 

 fodder and corn being drawn forward by a roller, the ear is picked 

 off, when it rolls into the interior of the machine where a series of 

 rubber rollers perfectly take ofi" the husk and silk and each is 

 delivered separate, one in a basket and one on the floor. When 

 worked by one horse, and at its best rate, it is claimed to husk a 

 buishel in two minutes. Price $50. 



