1838] 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



201 



•experiment. For liis efforts in prosecuting his 

 exporiinonts to siixnal succops, JNJr. Wilder de- 

 serves the unqualilied tlianks of the a<j;rir.ullural 

 world. The result of his labors will give an 

 impetus to the culture of beets in Hampshire 

 county; which cannot fiiil to be productive oi' last- 

 ing <j:ood. IJut to the process again. The dried 

 powder of the beet was Ibimd to yield its saccha- 

 rine immediately, as the decoction was found to 

 be as sweet as boiled maple tirup, the moment 

 the water was added to the powder. The means 

 used for the clarification of the decoction were very 

 simple. xVnimal charcoal and lime were the only 

 agents employed. This eminently successful ex- 

 periment proves the fact, that the immensely im- 

 portant article of sugar can be manufactured by 

 any intelligent farmer's household, as easily as 

 bread, pies or cakes, can be made and baked. 

 A rich garden spot of a qutirler of an acre, can 

 produce beets enough to make a thousand pounds 

 of sugar; no heavy capital or incorporated com- 

 pany is required to carry on the business. Every 

 individual can make a pound of sugar as cheaply 

 and as easily as he can make a pound of Indian 

 meal. This important tact has just been proved, 

 Now let us look at the amount of sugar brought 

 into Northampton last year. Why, it amount- 

 ed to one hundred and seven thousand pounds, 

 which, together with molasses consumed, would 

 cost over S 10,000. This is no inconsiderable sura 

 to be expended by our citizens annually. A do- 

 zen resolute farmers, by their influence and la- 

 bors combined, can create that sum from their 

 lands this summer in the culture of the beet. 

 At least, so we think. 



PROGRESS OF THE MANUFACTURE OF POU- 

 DRETTE IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK. 



To the Editor of tlie b'urmers' Register. 



A'^ew York, May Uih, 1838. 



You have probably noticed in the New York 

 Farmer, that I have been engaged for some time 

 past in introducing an improvement in ^'cify econo- 

 my,'''' by which the contents oi' privies (an article 

 ol" great value to agriculture, now thrown away, 

 and worse than that, as they are deposited in the 

 rivers around the city, instead of being, as I trust 

 hereafter they) are to be converted into an inof- 

 lensive and portable manure. 



The subject was brought to my attention by a 

 French gentleman who is familiar with the pro- 

 cess in his native country, and who is now engag- 

 ed with me in the operation here. We have 

 had many prejudices to combat, on account of the 

 nature of the business, and many difficulties to en- 

 counter, in consequence of the general derange- 

 ment of^ business, which have delayed our opera- 

 tions ; yet we are novv preparing about 60 bushels 

 of poudrette daily, and have a prospect of doinff 

 much more after a sliort time, when other busi- 

 ness will have resumed its accustomed activity, so 

 that a few additional shares of our stock may be 

 paid for, which will enable us to increase the num- 

 ber of teams required to "remove the deposites.'' 

 Of the value of poudrette as a manure, no person 

 of my acquaintance, familiar with its preparation, 



Vol. VI.-26 



entertains a doubt; yet there are few persons in 

 this country wlio are sufficiently ac(|uaintrd with 

 its use to appreciate duly the benefits which will 

 surely result from the labors of those who shall 

 introduce a mode of preparation by whicli the im- 

 mense amount of valuable material, now thrown 

 into our rivers, and of course a nuisance to all 

 classes of the community, shall be converted into an 

 inoffensive, portable and highly valuable manure. 

 The process of preparation, in my opinion, does 

 not materifdiy, it' at all, deteriorate its value, as 1 

 will satisfy you when you will visit our works. 

 That you may be better acquainted with the ar- 

 ticle, and have an opportunity to test its value, as 

 well as its inoffensive character and portability, I 

 send you a barrel, and shall be much obliged by 

 your using it for any kind of vegetables, or grain, 

 Of on grass, as may be convenient for you, and 

 noting its effects as compared with other manures. 

 I cannot give practical instruction as to the best 

 mode of application, but will observe that I am 

 using it in my garden for experimental purposes, 

 by putting some in the hill, some in drills, and 

 spreading some broad-cast and raking it in. 



I estimate its strength, or value, in the propor- 

 tion of one bushel of poudrette, to eight or ten 

 bushels of good stable or barn-yard manure, and 

 equal bushel for bushel to bone dust. We have 

 not yet, for want of means to extend our works, 

 been able to furnish a bushel to any person ex- 

 cept those who have taken a share or shares of 

 our stock, although numerous applications have 

 been made for ii, in small and large quantities, as 

 well by gentlemen in neighboring states, as by 

 those in this vicinity. To those who pay in ^100, 

 or take a share, we furnish two hundred bushels 

 of poudrette as their annual dividend, within three 

 and six months from the time of payment, whicfi 

 is equivalent to sixty per cent, on their invest- 

 ment, as we can receive thirty cents at the works 

 for every bushel we can make. 



We hope soon to be able to extend our works 

 largely in order to increase the quantity prepared, 

 so as in some measure to supply the demand for 

 the poudrette. 



I am in hopes that important benefits will re- 

 sult from this new source of improvement to agri- 

 culture. I say new source — it is new in t/iis 

 country, at least to much extent. The inquiry is 

 " Iioio,^^ and " tioiu much,'''' to use — not is it useful ; 

 as every person, at all conversant with such mat- 

 ters, understands the value of the raio material, as 

 well as the difficulty of its application. 



1 hope to hear from the effects of the barrel 

 sent to you. 



With much respect, I am very truly yours, 

 D. K. Minor. 



From tlic Genesee Farmer. 

 RAISING CLOVER SEED. 



In raising clover for seed, in order to procure a 

 good crop, it is first requisite that the land be fer- 

 tile: that it be well prepared before sowing; and 

 that a sufficient quantity be sown to yield a full 

 and even crop. 



The second and most difficult object to attain, 

 is to secure the crop when ripe, so as to save the 



