274 



NEW E N GLAND FARMER 



FEB. 13, 1840. 



AKD HORTICULTURAL BFGI3TER. 



Boston, Wednesday, Febbuahy 12, 1840. 



REPORT ON BEET SUGAR PREMIUMS. 



The Trustees of the " Massachusetts Society for the 

 P,-omotion of Agriculture," impressed witii the conside- 

 ration of the important ad\antages that might be derived 

 as well for the benefit of the agricultural as of the manu- 

 facturing interests of the country ; and being also aware 

 that the attention of many eminent men in several for- 

 eign countries has been zealously devoted to tliis subject, 

 whereby great improvement in the production of the beet 

 and the manufacture of sugar therefrom was in progres- 

 sion; were thereby induced in their proposals of premi- 

 ums the last year to offer as follows, viz : 



"To the person, persons or corporation who shall raise 

 the greatest quantity of sugar beets by the acre, not less 

 than two acres, which shall be manufactured into sugar 

 in the year 1839, giving a particular account of the soil 

 and the manner of sowing, cultivating and gathering the 

 beets, a premium ot One Hundred Dollars." 



This premium was not claimed, although the principal 

 objects aimed at by the Trustees, viz : the soil best suit- 

 ed, the manner of cultivation and ingathering of the beets, 

 are fully made to appear in the application made for the 

 ne.\t proposed premium, having relation to the same sub- 

 ject, which was as follows, viz : 



" To the person, persons or corporation who shall man- 

 ufacture from the sugar beet, (denominated Silesian 

 white beet,) sugar in the greatest fjuantity and of the best 

 quality, in the year 18o!), giving a full and particular ac- 

 count of the process, of manufacturing it, a premium of 

 One Hundred Dollars." 



For this premium there was only one claim preferred, 

 which was from the Northampton Beet Sugar Company, 

 by their agent, David Lee Child, Esq., who presented 

 two several samples of common brown sugar of the usual 

 flavor of such low priced commodity. An excellent sta- 

 ple also of loaf sugar, a very bright color, well grained 

 and crystalized, and no wise inferior in appearance to 

 the best loaf sugar manufactured from the cane. The 

 sugar of each quality was carefully examined by the com- 

 mittee. It was also inspected as made use of in different 

 articles of confectionary, by one well conversant in the 

 art (Mr Duroy,) who conmiended each sample, conside- 

 ring it as fully equal to sugar of the like quality from the 

 cane. 



There were also two samples of molasses one of which 

 appeared to be of good flavor and quality, and it was 

 thought well suited for those purposes to which this well 

 known article is applied for domestic use or for the Ba- 

 kery. 



The article of second quality may be used for the dis. 

 tillery, or for various gross purposes as well as in aid of 

 the vinegar cask. Its properties are also thought well of 

 as nutritive for animals. 



The whole process of sowing, cultivating, ingathering 

 and preserving the Silesian white beet, considered as the 

 most replete with saccharine matter, and of course most 

 suitable for manufacture, with remarks on the soil best 

 suited for production, and a full and particular account of 

 the whole course of the manufacturing the beet sugar 

 through its several processes, are very minutely set forth 

 in a pamphlet of 100 pages. This work of careful re- 

 search, the committee arc led to expect, will hereafter be 

 so far abridged as to diffuse a more general knowledge 

 than might otherwise be had. 



For the several wished-for objects thus brought into no- 

 tice, the community are indebted to the praiseworthy en- 



terprise of the Northampton Beet Sugar Company, and 

 the assiduous apjdication and zeal of their agent, Mr 

 Child. 



The measures thus taken in this establishment may, it 

 is hoped, lead to a course of experiment and improve- 

 ment which may, if persevered in, lead to their benefit as 

 well as that of the public. 



The Northampton Beet Sugar Company, having pro- 

 duced through their agent, Mr Child, the requisite certi- 

 ficates as to the quantity and quality of beet sugar manu- 

 factured by them, and the same having been carefully 

 examined and found to be severally of good quality, as 

 herein represented, and having, also, submitted a full 

 and particular account of the whole process of the manu- 

 facture, the committee were induced to report that they 

 are entitled to the premium of one hundred dollars. 



It may be considered, perhaps, incumbent on the com- 

 mittee, in closing this report, to state some facts which 

 the treatise furnished, in connexion with this subject, will, 

 if referred to, more fully show. 



The cost of the brown sugar as manufactured, appears 

 to be from .5 to 6 cents per pound. In France, where 

 nearly one hundred millions of pounds are said to be an- 

 nually manufactured, being about three pounds to a per- 

 son, labor, generalh', is much lower, and a great part of 

 it is performed by women and children; it is done, too, 

 at a rate less than half what is paid here. This, as far as 

 labor is included in the calculation, would add essentially 

 to the cost of the sugar. There are, however, circum- 

 stances which are reasoned upon in this communication, 

 which go fir to counteract these disadvantages, viz : the 

 cheapness of fuel, rent, buildings, &c. 



The value of the pulp, loo, or residuum of the beet 

 tnay be of great advantage, if well distributed, in the fat- 

 ting of cattle, swine, &c. 



There is, in conclusion, one important object to be 

 hoped for from the great efforts which are making in Eu- 

 rope as well as in this country, that the research and ex- 

 periments now in exercise, may conduce to a more sim- 

 ple process, by which the manufacture of beet sugar may 

 bo availed of by domestic industry. This is by many con- 

 fidently anticipated. 



It is, however, much to be regretted, that this desired 

 object has, in this respect, thus far, wholly failed. 



All of which is submitted in behalf of the Committee. 

 JOHN WELLES, Chairman. 



Boston, 1839. 



THE FOURTH AGRICULTURAL MEETING 



Was holden on Thursday evening, 6th inst.,Mr King 

 in the Chair. 



The meeting proceeded to elect four vice presidents 

 and an additional secretary. The following gentlemen 

 were chosen vice presidents : 



Mr Otis Brigham, of Westboro' ; 



" B. P. Williams, of Roxbury ; 



■' C. P. Phelps, of Hadley ; 



" Jesse Pierce, of Stoughlon. 



Mr Henry W. Cushman, of Bernardston, v^•as chosen 

 ad4Jitional secretary. 



The Commissioner then proceeded to exhibit to the 

 meeting a butter presser, for the purpose of expressing 

 the buttermilk without applying the hand to tho butter. 

 This was invented at Nantucket, and had been sometime 

 ^ised there by the inventor, who greatly approved it. It 

 is a simple machine, somewhat resembling a baker's 

 brake. 



A turnip quarterer or sheer, simple and cheap in its 

 construction and effectual in its operation. This he had 

 obtained ,n the interior of New York, and commended 

 it to the use of the farmers. 



Next a sample of superior winter whe«t, sent him 

 from Halifax, imder the name of Chevalier wheat, or 

 Brown's prolific. It is a soft-skinned winter wheat, and 

 eminently beautiful. 



Next, samples of raw silk from Dr Deane, at Greet I 

 field, reeled upon a simple machine of his own constru' 

 lion ; on his part a first attempt at raising silk : in th 

 case a perfectly successful attempt. 



Next, specimens of raw silk, of a beautiful qualit 

 from Northampton, Mass., and Burlington, N. J., mat 

 from the leaves of trees planted the last April. Nei 

 beautiful specimens of sewing silk, manufactured at NortI 

 ampton and at Harvard, I\]ass. : and next, a superior spi 

 citnen of black silk velvet, and seven different specimet 

 of elegantly wrought wide ribbons; the silk grown an 

 the articles manulactured by Miss Gertrude Kapp, i 

 Economy, Penn. ;'a lady who receives this year for h( 

 products more than four hundred dollars, in bountic 

 from the State. 



Lastly, a box of butter, recently made, and withoi 

 any artificial coloring whatever, sent to him from tl 

 farm of Mr C. Denny, of Westboro', and manufactun 

 by Mrs Blake. It is ul as fine color and flavor, as if mat 

 utactured in June, and done up with the greatest nea 

 nessand care. The Commissioner has often urged upo 

 farmers in the vicinity of Boston, to keep winter dairie 

 as the trouble would not be greater than in summer, at 

 new butter of the best quality would at that season cod 

 mand the most liberal price. He has been constant) 

 met with the objection that butter of a good consistem 

 and color could not be made at this season of the yea 

 He was happy to show this butter, as demonstrating tl 

 error of this prejudice ; and the admiration which it cal 

 ed out, will not, it is hoped, be lost upon the farmer 

 Almost as many penknives %vere drawn out to taste it, ; 

 Burke says, swords would have flown from their scai 

 bards in behalf of the beautiful Frerrch queen. Tl 

 swords would have been for defence : the penkniv- 

 were for attack ; and the Commissioner thought himse 

 fortunate that he was able to maintain the citadel ui 

 harmed. 



The meeting was then addressed, at the invitation 

 the committee of arrangements, by the Hon. Isaac Hi 

 ex-governor of New Hampshire. Tlie subject of his a 

 dress was the Improvement of the Agriculture of Ne 

 England. He went largely into a view of the improv 

 ments and present condition of husbandry in Great Bi 

 tain, and showed in what respect their modes of husband; 

 were applicable to our country. The address was r 

 ceived with much gratification by a crowded assembl 

 It was interesting, instructive, and useful. At this tim 

 as will be seen from the state of our columns, we hai 

 no room even for an abstract of it. This will be givt 

 hereafter. 



The Fifth Agricultural Meeting will be held at tl 

 Representatives' Hall on Thursday evening next, at 

 o'clock. The subject of discussion — Indian Corn. — H.< 



A CARD. 



The Commissioner of Agricultural Survey respectfull 

 acknowledges the receipt from Messrs Ellis and Bosso 

 of this city, of a sample of Spring Wheat called Ely 

 Gigatuic Wheat; deemed highly prolific. It is singt 

 larly beautiful. 



Prom George Randall, Esq. of New Bedford, a sampl 

 of Spring Wheat raised on his highly improved farm i 

 Rochester, Plymouth County — a verv fine grain ; a sampl 

 of Winter Wheat grown on the same farm, and quite fair 

 a sample of Chevaliir Barley, recently imported, and 

 heavy and beautiful article ; and a sample of Wheat froi 

 Orleans County, New York, very good, with which hi 

 own will not suffer by comparison. 



From Messrs J. Breck and Co. samples of Winte 

 Wheat denominated Surry Golden Drop andjWithingto 

 Wheat, both winter grains ; and samples of Hopetowr 

 Essex 'Winter, Kent Tartary, and Dutch Poland Oats 

 and of tares and beans, from a lot selected by Mr Web 

 ster in his recent visit to England ; and without doub 

 among the best which could be found. The wheals ar 

 remarkably beautiful, and the oats very fine samples. 



These several articles will be exhibited to the farmer 

 at the next agricultural meeting. 



HENRY COLMAN, 

 Commissioner of Agricullural Survey 



To Correspondents and Readers. — The communi 

 cation from Mr Warren on the Rohan Potato shall ap 

 pear in our next. 



33^, We trust it needs no apology that we have givet 

 our reB;ders in our paper of to-day, so much of a goot 

 thing. We did not like to divide the speeches, and wt 

 know they will be read with instruction and pleasure. 



