INDIANA CANE GROWERS. 465 



will grow quite large in size in warm climates, but no sugar is found in it. The 

 maximum temperature suitable for the production of the beet is 60° Fahrenheit. 

 The temperature of California may justly be divided into two localities. In one 

 locality the temperature of summer was above 70°, and in the other region 70° or 

 below. The whole region of California between the coast range and sea down 

 2,000 miles has an even temperature of less than 70°. That country comprising 

 the great valley of California, which begins at the source of the Sacramento river 

 and extends to San Francisco Bay, is one of the most remarkable valleys, the tem- 

 perature being so high it is not worth while to try the sugar beet. Between the 

 coast range and the sea it is mostly hilly, and it is only in the valleys of this 

 region that the soil is suitable for the beet. The area found in California is small 

 in proportion to the size of the State, embracing only about two million acres. 



From San Francisco to Oakland, passing down eighteen miles to the west side 

 of the bay to a little town called Elbrithe, twenty-four miles in a southeast direc- 

 tion, there is situated the only beet sugar factory in the United States. It has been 

 many years since the first attempt to manufacture sugar from the beet. One was 

 established in Illinois, Wisconsin and Delaware, and also in Massachusetts. The 

 factory in Massachusetts was equal to the best in Europe, and cost $140,000; this, 

 like all its predecessors, went into bankruptcy. In California S500,000 was lost in 

 attempting to establish this beet sugar interest. The very spot of ground on which 

 the present factory stands marks the ruins of two previous ones. One single man 

 has finally conquered, and made a success financially. The area of the United 

 States suitable for the culture of the beet is considerable, as shown in the Bulletins 

 of the Chemical Bureau. There are certain tracts of country that are suitable 

 for the cultivation of the beet, but its manufacture is not understood. To manu- 

 facture when first ripe would not be profitable for the outlay in money. The beets 

 are kept through the winter in open piles, with a little straw thrown over them to 

 avoid the danger of freezing, while occasionally they are put in siloes to preserve 

 them from frost. It is always spring there, which enables them to plant early — 

 sometimes in February — and the crops are ready for the factory from the 1st of 

 August till December They can store their beets with safety and continue the 

 making of sugar until late in the spring. This company does not produce their 

 own beets, but engage the farmers to raise beets for them ; and it is quite profitable, 

 as the price per ton delivered at the mill is $4.-50, and they raise from fifteen to 

 twenty-five tons per acre. Up to the present year the trouble has been to get enough 

 beets to run the entire work season. Owing to the low price of wheat, a great 

 many farmers raise beets who never raised them before; the result is that the com- 

 pany has been overstocked with beets. The total number received up to the 5th of 

 Decembi-r was 27,000 tons. This company makes pure granulated sugar. Their 

 machinery is somewhat imperfect, but serves the purposes of the factory, and works 

 eighty tons of beets per day. The analysis of the beet shows that it contains about 

 fourteen pounds of sugar to the 100 lbs. of beets. The purity of the beet is re- 

 markable, as they grow beside tide- water, and come in contact with the salt of the 

 sea, where you would say we could not raise beets, yet it is a beet that makes a 

 good yield and a fine article of sugar. Mr. President, there is not an area in the 

 world better adapted to the production of the beet than the area running up 

 30— Agriculture. 



