CHAPTER III. 



Early Prejudice in the United States Against Feeding 

 Cattle with Sugar Beets and Residuum Cossettes. 



RESPECTING American experience in diffusion pulp utilization, 

 we would say that the farmers were at first opposed to it; and 

 the total product of the diffusion batteries of the Portland 

 factory, for the first year's campaign, was thrown into the bay. 

 In subsequent years a portion of it was sold; those who experi- 

 mented with it give some valuable testimonials regarding its 

 nourishing value. Messrs. George Blansee & Co., of Cumber- 

 land, for example, estimated that it was worth, as a fodder for 

 cattle, at least $5 a ton. The difficulty with which that com- 

 pany had to contend may be judged from a letter a New Eng- 

 land farmer writes to one of our weekly papers, as follows: 

 "The Maine Beet Sugar Company expected the farmers to buy 

 back the pulp at $2 per ton, but could not make them see it! 

 The pulp of potatoes * at the starch factory is worthless, and is 

 shoveled into the mill-race. Why should that of the beet be 

 any better ?" It is to be regretted that communications of this 

 character should receive public attention through the press or 

 otherwise, and the writer would have been only too glad not to 

 call attention to them, but it seems best to explain or rectify 

 such statements. In the first place, the shoveling of potato 

 pulp into the mill-race is a wasteful practice, as this refuse has 

 a decidedly practical value as a fodder. It is in Europe gener- 

 ally combined with other roots, and in no case is it thrown 

 away. These are facts that the farmer quoted above has over- 



*In France this potato pulp has many industrial applications, the most im- 

 portant being the manufacture of poudrette for manuring purposes. It is also 

 largely used in the manufacture of tobacco boxes; it is also mixed with coal, 

 etc. , for fuel. If, after boiling, it is applied to cotton or woolen goods, it will 

 give them a rich brown hue. 



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