1836.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



269 



terprising capitalists will be inducecl, to undertake 

 the experiment; for that it must uhimately become 

 one ol" our great branches of imlustry, scarcely 

 admits of a doubt. 



I do not know any subject so worthy of the con- 

 sideration of the Massachusetts Agricuhural So- 

 ciety, as this new culture. It will render our cli- 

 mate independent of the tropics, and introduce a 

 great valuable staple for our iarmers, which has 

 been much required, to elevate them to the level 

 of other more naturally favored portions of the 

 union. We have no distinctive crop, to which 

 our land owners can direct their attention as a con- 

 stant and certain source of profit. Kvcn Indian corn 

 is not always to be relied upon, and our soil is not 

 generally congenial to wheat. We arc too fiir north 

 to enter into the lucrative culture of tobacco and cot- 

 ton, and are compelled to confine our labors to the 

 rearing of an infinite variety of small articles, or 

 to grazing. Butter, cheese, pork and beef are our 

 chief products, which are raised at a vast expense, 

 lor our winters require such immense fields to fur- 

 nish hay for the stock during that long protracted 

 and rigorous season, that the farmer is precluded 

 from acquiring a fortune, which he is so deserved- 

 ly merits, from his arduous and patient industry, 

 and for which all the other classes of society are 

 emulously striving, and which they can, more cer- 

 tainly attain. By labor without end, it is true, the 

 farmer can live comlbrtably, but seldom is it, that 

 he reaches a more happy condition. This is to 

 be lamented. In other states the owners of land 

 are in the high road to affluence, and why should 

 not a mighty effort be made to ameliorate the con- 

 dition of the virtuous, hardy and intelligent hus- 

 bandmen of New England. 



The quantity of flour and cereal grains — as 

 wheat, corn, rye, barlc}^, and oats, animally im- 

 ported from the middle, southern and western 

 states is enormous, and is a sufficient commentary 

 on our soil and climate, for the culture ev-en of 

 bread stuff; and we export, of agricultural products, 

 but little. This discouraging aspect of our agri- 

 culture, has induced hundreds of thousands of our 

 active and vigorous young men. to emigrate to 

 other sections of the United States, where the soil 

 and climate are less adverse to the hopes of the 

 farmer. But if the culture of the sugar beet is 

 successfully introduced, the ultimate benefils which 

 will result, may be anticipated, from what has 

 been accomplished in France, within the brief pe- 

 riod of fifteen years. I confidently believe, tliat 

 the culture of silk and the sugar beet will eflcct 

 such a salutary chance, in the condition of the 

 farmers, that they will present as much prosperity, 

 independence of circumstances, and aflluence, as 

 the cultivators of the earth in any portion of the 

 globe. 



Germany, Prussia, and Russia, have recently 

 entered, with zeal, into this favored branch of rural 

 economy; and even England, where there has, 

 hitherto, been such an indifference to the subject, 

 if not amounting to contempt, I perceive, by the 

 very last arrival from London, has at last awaken- 

 ed from her stupor, and a company was about be- 

 ing organized, under the name of the United King- 

 dom Beet Root Sugar Association, with a capital 

 of 1,000,000 of dollars. 



Mr. Isnard having first aided in introducing the 

 manufacture of sugar from the beet, in France, 

 and having kept himself constantly informed of 



the various improvements which have been made 

 since, may well be confided in, as an able pioneer, 

 for this industry in the United States. 



In Philadelpliia, eflbrts are being made, by a 

 company, to commence the culture of the beet 

 and to manufacture sugar in Pennsylvania. An 

 agent has been sent to France to collect informa- 

 tion; and from the measures which are in train 

 there is very prospect of a fiivorable result. 



From your long and meritorious services, as an 

 officer of the Mass. Agricultural Society, and 

 your known patriotic disposition to advance the 

 best interest of your country, by all the possible 

 means within your power, I am fully persuaded, 

 that this very interesting subject will receive from 

 you and your highly respectable and public spirit- 

 ed associates, all that consideration, countenance 

 and encouragement, which it appears so pre-emi- 

 nently to merit. 



With sentiments of the highest respect, 

 Your most ob't scrv't, 



II. A. S. DKARBORX. 



From Uic Mechanics' Magazine. 

 STEAIM, versus WATER. 



Few persons even in this age of inquiry and im- 

 provement seem to be aware of the vast superiori- 

 ty of steam over every other form of motive pow- 

 er. Many are still, by this assertion, reminded 

 of the anecdote of the famous Brindley. In 

 giving evidence before a Committee of the House 

 of Commons on the subject of canals, he spoke of 

 their superiority as a mode of communication in 

 such decided terms, that a member asked for what 

 he thought rivers were intended? lie unhesita- 

 tingly rcphed, "/o feed canals.^'' Now, though 

 we say that the manulacturer will one dfiy "feed 

 his boiler from the falls," we think that the asser- 

 tion is not a bold one, and that it does admit of 

 proof. 



Some time ago, our attention was directed to a 

 comparison of the expense of the two forms of 

 power in the village of Lowell, possessed of the 

 best water power in the union. The expense of 

 steam to water was said to be as 100 to 125. 



We have since oflen had this subject in mind in 

 refijrence to the more improved use of steam, and 

 particularly to the economy of the rotary engine of 

 Avery. 



Pursuing the comparison, we have collected 

 some of the more prominent disadvantages of the 

 usual hydraulic system, and the corresponding ad- 

 vantage of steam power. 



The first item of cost is that of the water-right, 

 over and above the value of the ground as in- 

 creased by any other advantages of locality. This 

 expense is in no case trilfing, and sometimes is po- 

 sitively enormous. There is, of course, no corres- 

 ponding item of expenditure in the use of steam, 

 an engine working as well on the top of a liill as 

 in the bottom of a valley. 



2d. The outlay upon wheels, dams, and other 

 hydraulic works. This is often much greater than 

 would be necessary for the average pressure, pro- 

 vided it were constant— that is, we are to erect 

 works to support mucli more ^vater than we have 

 supplied through three quarters of the year. 

 Freshens, &c. are to be provided against, at an in- 

 creased cost. It is well known that in soiqe loca- 



