18 ? 8 .] 
AMERICAN AdRICULRERIST. 
289 
industry up to 1865, and since that time its continued 
success is shown by the following statistics: Total pro¬ 
duct of beet-sugar in 1853, 200,000 tons ; total product of 
beet-sugar in 1863, 452,000 tons ; total product of beet- 
sugar in 1873, 952.000 tons. It may be considered as one 
of the established industries of the temperate zone, and 
only awaits the judicious application of capital and la¬ 
bor to establish it on any suitable soil, and in any proper 
locality. The permanent effects produced on agriculture 
in France by the cultivation of beet-sugar have been as¬ 
tonishing. In the cane-sugar districts, no other crop is 
to be seen, while cattle, sheep, and bogs are few. In the 
beet-sugar districts of Central Europe, on the contrary, 
the fields are crowded with the greatest diversity of 
crops, such as beets, wheat, rye, oats, barley, etc., as well 
as all of the cultivated grasses. No farmer there need 
to be told which system is the most enduring. On a 
great public occasion, the following significant inscrip¬ 
tion was placed on a triumphal arch: “ Before the man¬ 
ufacture of beet-sugar, the arrondissement of Valenci¬ 
ennes produced 695,590 bushels of wheat, and fattened 
700 oxen. Since the manufacture of beet-sugar was in¬ 
troduced, the arrondissement of Valenciennes has pro¬ 
duced 1,157.750 bushels of wheat, and has fattened 11,500 
oxen. - ’ A farm of 832 acres in France, the product of 
which, with the ordinary farming, amounted to $8,000 
per annum, with six years of beet-sugar cultivation, pro¬ 
duced $41,200 per annum. Another farm, of 295 acres, 
produced 5,225 bushels of wheat, 2.500 tons of beets, and 
fattened 150 head of cattle, per annum. The farmers at¬ 
tributed their success as cultivators entirely to the im¬ 
mense amount of barn-yard manure, which the beet-pulp 
gives to the stock, enabling them also to effect an im¬ 
proved condition of the soil. The improved and in¬ 
creased amount of profitable culture of the land conse¬ 
quent upon beet-culture is now universally acknowl¬ 
edged, and wherever the beet is cultivated, lands ad¬ 
vance in value, and wages take the same direction. Cows 
fatten upon the leaves and pulp, and also produce more 
and better flavored butter and milk than when fed on 
grasses; so that the production of sugar from the beet 
adds to the supply of bread, butter, and meat; and 
these—the leading necessities of man’s existence—stim¬ 
ulate and aid each other. 
Varieties Used—Harvesting: and 
Storing: the Crop. 
The varieties of sugar-beet most extensively used are 
the White Sugar, or Silesian, the Imperial, and the 
Quidlingbnrger, and they penetrate the soil from eight 
to twelve inches. The most desirable weight is from 
1J to 4 pounds each. Their greatest diameter is from 
three to six inches. Large or overgrown beets are 
very poor for sugar. If the soil is cultivated to a suit¬ 
able depth, the beet-root will grow entirely beneath the 
surface ; but when the ordinary cultivation is used, being 
unable to attain its length below the surface, it will 
extend above the ground; where, exposed to the sun’s 
rays, it is injured, and less productive. Any soil that 
is suitable for wheat, which has been under cultiva¬ 
tion—the longer the better—that admits of deep tillage, 
clear of stones, with a clay tendency, is suitable for 
beets. The soil of Maryland is well adaptedfor growing 
beets, and. in fact, many parts of nearly all the older 
States of the Union; and the industry ought to be gen¬ 
erally introduced into this country at an early day. 
An Old French Farmer. 
Some Bee Notes for August. 
BY L. C. ROOT, MOHAWK, N. Y. 
Since the writing of July “ Notes,” the outlook for bee¬ 
keepers has assumed a much more encouraging aspect. 
The very warm days of the last of June and the first of 
July, have, in a degree, retarded the rapid gathering of 
honey. During extremely warm weather, great care 
should be taken to ventilate each hive, and to keep the 
apiary shaded from the direct rays of the sun, as the 
combs are liable to be melted down. Follow directions 
given last month, and remove box-honey from the hives 
as fast as the boxes are well filled. In localities where 
buckwheat and other late forage abounds, the boxes re¬ 
moved may be replaced with empty ones. Each bee¬ 
keeper must learn the honey resources of his special 
locality, and not continue adding boxes too late in the 
season, as the boxes may not be filled, and hence may 
get soiled and unfit for use. After removing boxes the 
bees may he driven from them with smoke; or the boxes 
may be placed in an empty hive, box, or barrel, and a 
cloth thrown over it, leaving a slight opening at one side, 
where the bees may pass out and return to their hives. 
Box-honey should be examined occasionally, to see that 
the moth-worm is not injuring it. If only a few are 
found, they may be removed, but if badly affected, the 
worms should be killed by placing the boxes in another 
box, and smoking them with brimstone. Care should be 
taken not to extract the honey from the body of the hive, 
so late in the season that the bees can not gather a suf¬ 
ficient amount to winter upon. Allowing bees to swarm 
late is often objectionable for the same reason. We 
should have the requisites for successful wintering in 
mind, even at this time of the year. 
Honey Yield. —I have selected a very strong swarm 
of Italian bees, and have given it very particular atten¬ 
tion, furnishing extra combs from time to time, and, in 
fact, have endeavored to secure the most favorable con¬ 
ditions in every respect. At present, it contains thirty- 
two (32) movable combs. I propose to extract the honey 
from these combs, with the honey extractor, during the 
entire season, returning the empty combs to be refilled ; 
and will report dates and amount of honey taken at each 
time for the benefit of the readers of these “Notes.” 
The first honey was taken July 5th, amounting to 90 lbs. 
How the Fourth was Celebrated at 
“Houghton Farm.” 
Those who think that the national holiday can only be 
properly celebrated by going somewhere—anywhere away 
from the farm, and that a plenty of powder and punch 
are necessary to a proper enjoyment of the day, may 
take a hint from the manner in which the last Fourth 
was celebrated at “Houghton Farm.” This farm is a 
beautiful spot among the mountains of Orange Co., N. 
Y., and is likely to be heard of hereafter by the readers 
of the American Agriculturist. Suffice it to say for the 
present, that, taking all its departments together, a good¬ 
ly number of hands are employed, the head farmer, and 
some others, having families upon the place. The Cele¬ 
bration was quite impromptu, and owed its success to 
the heartiness with which all entered into the scheme. 
There were the proprietor, his family, and his guests (of 
which the writer was one), and the various farm hands, 
conspicuous among whom was the head stable-man. the 
prime mover in the out-door sports, one and all bent 
upon having a good time—each one being desirous of do¬ 
ing something to help. Where such a spirit prevails, 
each desirous to please, and of being pleased, the rest is 
not difficult. The very near neighbors were invited, and 
as those farther away had wind of the doings, there 
was, by 4 o’clock, quite a large assemblage in and 
around the field where the first performances took place. 
Friendly clouds made active exercise tolerable, and the 
young men, encouraged by prizes, which ranged from 
small sums of money, to “the makings” of a corduroy 
snit, entered into the sports with a will. First came a 
game of “ Blind Man’s Buff,” in which each blinded man 
had a straw-stuffed canvass club, with which he was to 
hit one of the number who was not blinded, and he carried 
a bell as a guide to his whereabouts. There was, of 
course, much hitting of every one but the right one, and 
much amusement was afforded. Then there was a foot, race 
of 100 yards, in which length of leg plainly told. In con¬ 
trast came a sack race, wherein a dozen, each with 
legs and arms confined in a sack, started, while but few, 
on account of tumbles, reached the mark. Next there 
was diving for a coin at the bottom of a tub of water, the 
winner to fish it out with his month. This, which made 
great sport, was followed by a wheel-barrow race, in 
which the blind-folded contestants showed much skill. 
The last, and most amusing race was of 25 yards, each 
each one carrying a pail of water on his head; the one 
who had the most water in his pail on reaching the goal, 
being the winner. There was of course much spilling of 
water and wetting of clothes, but there was much fun al¬ 
so, and those who came in the wettest seemed to langh 
the most heartily. The contestants in these games, and 
others, were considerately supplied with iced “switch- 
el ” (molasses and water spiced with ginger). The 
crowning portion of the out-door sports was a tub-race, 
participated in by three guests at the farm. This took 
place in Awassema Creek, and, like all such races, was a 
series of false starts and complete duckings, which, 
though exceedingly laughable, need not be recorded. 
Suffice it to say that a gentleman connected with the 
American Agriculturist is tne happy possessor of a genu¬ 
ine tin cup, as a mark of his prowess in the tubby line. 
The tub-race ended the daylight amusements. In the 
evening there was another gathering in front of the 
dwelling house, where a part of the broad veranda had 
been enclosed to form a stage for the exhibition of shad¬ 
ow-pictures and tableaux, which were presented by the 
members of the family and visitors to an audience which 
included those who had taken part in the day's sports, 
and the neighbors. The most pathetic history of Mary 
Jane, and other things, were effectively shown as shadow- 
pictures. Songs were sung. The lady of the house read the 
old story of Ginevra, but ever new as told in Rogers’ 
verse, as a prelude to a beautiful tableau picture of a 
bride. The appearance of one of the young ladies as the 
Goddess of Liberty excited much enthusiasm, which 
found vent in the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner” 
by the company. At length the “ Flower of the Family” 
appeared with a “good night” candle, when the audi¬ 
ence left after singing “America,” and showing their ap¬ 
preciation by hearty parting cheers.—Here was a celebra¬ 
tion which was enjoyed by many, brought no risk of fire, 
and did not cost one-twentieth of what is usually spent 
in fizz and bang. It was extemporized from materials at 
hand, and with the desire to please and readiness to be 
pleased on the part of ail, was a real success. We give 
this brief account of it. that those who may next year be 
puzzled to know “ what to do on the 4th,” may profit by 
the hint; for such a completely successful, really pleasing, 
yet quite inexpensive and thoroughly harmless celebra¬ 
tion as that at “ Houghton Farm,” is possible on many a 
farm throughout the broad land, and if not always prac¬ 
ticable upon a single farm, a neighborhood celebration 
may be carried out upon the same plan. 
Thinning Hoots, —The yield of roots, as well 
as their feeding value, depends largely upon a 
proper thinning of the plants. Large roots are by 
no means worth the most. In an experimental crop, 
grown in England, small Swede turnips which 
yielded 20 tons per acre, were found to contain as 
much dry substance as large ones which yielded 40 
tons per acre—the excess of 20 tons being wholly 
water. The small plants were thinned out to a few 
inches apart; the larger ones to 14 or 16 inches. 
As the thinning of root crops should be done at 
once, these facts are worthy of notice and con¬ 
sideration. When the crop is in vigorous growth, 
the plants should be thinned so that those remain¬ 
ing may have a space between them equal to their 
own diameter, and no more. This will prevent 
overgrowth, and cause the roots to be solid and 
well shaped. 
Western Immigration. —The unexampled 
increase in the current of emigration westward of 
the present season, is remarkable. A fair idea of 
the extent of the movement, may be gathered from 
a statement of the sales of land by land grant rail¬ 
roads during the first four months of 1878, as com¬ 
pared with those for the corresponding period of 
1877. Last year, the sales from January 1st to May 
1st, were 26,601 acres ; this year, 967,151 acres, in 
value nearly $4,000,000. The increase is 32£ times. 
In this are not included the vast number of home¬ 
steads or pre-emption entries along the routes of 
these roads, which far surpass in number the set¬ 
tlements upon purchased lands. The rush west¬ 
ward consists in great part of mechanics and labor¬ 
ing men who hope to improve their circumstances 
by working for themselves instead of for others, 
and of business men who have succumbed to the 
pressure of too many men in trade. It is not to be 
feared that the great increase in production will in¬ 
juriously affect the interests of farmers elsewhere. 
Every car-load of produce grown in the West, or 
elsewhere in fact, gives work for many hands in 
transporting and manufacturing ; it creates also a 
market for tools, clothes, stock, and other neces¬ 
saries, which in the aggregate makes employment 
for thousands. Thus general industry is excited, 
and the increased product is needed to feed those 
whose labor is required to dispose of it, at home, as 
well as for enlarging foreign markets. 
More Wheat to the Acre. 
That the ten, fifteen, and even thirty bushel wheat- 
crops are not the largest that any good wheat- soil 
is capable of producing, is a fact patent to every 
intelligent farmer; yet thousands go on raising 
these comparatively unprofitable crops, even though 
the means is at hand for largely increasing them. It 
is really quite within the possibilities of any farm 
suitable for raising wheat at all, to grow an average 
crop of over 30 bushels per acre; and 40, 50, and 
even 60 bushels may reasonably be expected under 
proper culture. Such crops are rather the rule 
than the exception on good English wheat farms, 
but are quite rare in this country. 
The cost of fitting the soil, of seed, sowing, in¬ 
terest on the land, and the number and value of the 
stock and implements required are the same for a 
small as for a large crop ; and the cost of harvest¬ 
ing is but little more in the latter case. So that 
