1870. 



NEW ENGLAND FAE]!iIER. 



367 



from three to ttoelve hundred persons have 

 been cared for, and well cared for, it ■will be 

 conceded, we think, that no better evidences 

 of agricultural skill have ever been presented 

 to the farmers of the State, that in the man- 

 agement of this originally wretchedly poor 

 farm. 



Twelve years ago, three cows could not be 

 fed from it ; now seventy five head of stock 

 are fed from the hay cut, several thousand 

 bushels of roots harvested, cabbages by thou- 

 sands of heads, and potatoes by thousands of 

 bushels, and, every day, forty pounds of the 

 most delicious butter are made. 



It is true, that Capt. Marsh has unusual 

 facilities in the use of fertilizers and labor, 

 but in the hands of many persons, these would 

 only increase the bills of cost to get rid of 

 them. A large amount of the labor comes 

 from persons who are incompetent to direct 

 themselves, and must be constantly guarded 

 and directed by others. And yet, this labor, 

 trifling as it is individually, is sufficient in the 

 aggregate to produce such excellent results. 



BEET SUGAR MANUFACTUBB. 



The expectations which were excited several 

 years since by the purchase at Chatsworth, 111., of 

 some 2400 acres of rich land, and the establish- 

 ment there of a costly factory, to be operated by 

 experienced men from Germany, have not been 

 realized thus far. On the contrary we have had 

 reports of disappointment and partial failure, 

 which have been disheartening to those who had 

 hoped that this establishment would demonstrate 

 not only the possibility, but the profitableness of 

 producing at least a portion of the large amount 

 of sugar consumed in this country. 



A writer in the New York Tribune, who has vis- 

 ited Chatsworth, and examined the premises of 

 the Company, thinks that that section does not 

 possess all the vital conditions of success. The 

 soil is a strong black clay loam, exceedingly rich 

 in humus and the nitrates, especially adapted to 

 corn, oats and grass, but having too great an ex- 

 cess of salts, for sugar beet culture, until, by grain 

 growing, these have been somewhat reduced. The 

 soil is inclined to wash and run together, under 

 the action of water and frost; while "one re- 

 quirement for success in sugar-beet culture is a 

 thoroughly drained soil, that can be worked at all 

 seasons within twenty-four hours after the heavi- 

 est rains, and which shall be sufficiently sandy, so 

 that it will not crust nor bake, but easily disinte- 

 grate in cultivation. Another necessity is plenty 

 of sweet soit water, accessible to the sugar fac- 

 tory for use in both cleaning and steam power. 

 Now these particulars, absolutely essential to suc- 



cessful and profitable beet culture and sugar man- 

 ufacture, do not exist at Chatsworth, in a state of 

 nature, but at great expense are being gained by 

 artificial means. The experiment at this point is 

 an exact parallel of one in Germany, where nearly 

 all the natural conditions were the same, and 

 where the capital of three successive companies 

 were sunk before it was made a success; but 

 which we may say, for the comfort of the stock- 

 holders at Chatsworth, is now one of the best pay- 

 ing companies in Germany." 



A "black-sand" soil, like that of the Rock 

 and Fox River bottoms, of Alton and Villa Ridge, 

 111., also along "Winnebago Lake, at Fond Du Lac 

 and other points in Wisconsin, is considered 

 more favorable than the prairies for beet growing. 



Speaking of the last year's operations, in culti- 

 vating beets at Chatsworth, this writer says, their 

 lack of complete success can in no way be attri- 

 buted to mismanagement. The seven weeks of 

 uninterrupted raiu in May and June washed off 

 or rotted away all but 100 acres of the beet plants. 

 The succeeding drought and early frost left them 

 from this but 300 tuns of beets for their toil. Yet 

 with all these disadvantages beets were placed in 

 the mill at a cost of $4.50 the tun — 10 per cent, 

 lower than the lowest estimate for this result by 

 the German manufacturers. This was effected in 

 part at least by newly invented machinery. The 

 indications for the present season are regarded as 

 favorable. Three hundred and thirty acres of 

 beets, 150 of grass, 140 of wheat, 150 of rye, 400 of 

 oats, 1100 of corn, &c , are novv under cultiva- 

 tion, and all looking well. The writer anticipates 

 for Chatsworth a good measure of success this sea- 

 son, and believes it is now in hands in all de- 

 partments competent to realize the wishes of its 

 friends, and those of this industry generally, as to 

 its success both financially and otherwise. 



CUHCULIO TSAP3 OF MICHIQAW. 



The Horticultural Editor of the Prairie Farmer 

 has visited St. Joseph, Mich., and examined the 

 new plan of destroying the curculio, of which we 

 gave some account last week. While he advises 

 cultivators to try the traps, he is less sanguine of 

 their pfliciency than are the people of St. Joseph. 

 During cold nights the curculios descend for a 

 more comfortable lodging, but when the weather 

 becomes warm enough to swell the fruit sutBciently 

 large for their operations, he says they do not de- 

 scend, but remain ail night in the tree. From this 

 time there are not less than thirty days, during 

 which they fly freely, and migrate from one or- 

 chard to another. Indeed, fruit was found to be 

 stung on trees that had been most carefully trapped, 

 and on resorting to the old jarring process many 

 more insects were caught on the sheets than had 

 been under the traps. While, therelore, the new 

 process may lighten the labor of jarring, it appears 

 that it cannot be relied upon as an exterminator. 



Prof. Riley, of the American Entomologist, agrees 



