POTATO SUGAR. 



Sugar from the Sweet Potato. 



WE cannot admit the sweet potato as a source 

 of Northern sugar supply, for the reason 

 that it is essentially a Southern vegetable. 



It is true the sandy soils of New Jersey have 

 yielded satisfactory results as to the number of bushels 

 grown to the acre, but we know nothing of their 

 saccharine qualities. We are convinced, however, 

 that this sugar percentage would be less than it would 

 have been had these roots been grown at the South. 

 For example : sweet potatoes raised in South Carolina 

 contain more sugar than those of Virginia ; and it is 

 presumable that those raised in Vermont would be 

 inferior to others of Louisiana. 



The maximum sugar existing in the sweet potato, 

 to our knowledge, in the Southern climes, is ten per 

 cent. We have not been able to find any data as to 

 the yield per acre to be expected North, but we are 

 informed that the Southern yield is about three times 

 that of corn, or, in other words, about 6,000 pounds, 

 or less than three tons per acre. (This latter may be 

 taken as a basis.) The maximum possible sugar to be 

 extracted from this would be, say, six per cent., or, 

 perhaps, 400 pounds. If this should be sold at 

 eight cents per pound, it would represent $32.00. If 

 we admit that the total residue molasses is 300 pounds, 

 and if this be sold at two cents per pound, it would 

 represent $6.00, or a total for the receipts of $38.00. 

 As for the cost of raising the sweet potatoes, it would 



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