Report of inquiry into the composition and cultivation of sugar beet, and its application to the manufacture of sugar in Ireland

Contents

Report : —

Inquiry into the Composition and Cultivation of the Sugar Beet in

Ireland, and its application to the Manufacture of Sugar,

Appendix

PAPERS APPENDED TO THIS REPORT.

A. Copy of Form of Inquiry issued to obtain information as to the circumstances of

the Cultivation of the Beet Roots experimented on.

B. Special Report on the Composition of the White Silesian Beet grown in Ireland in

1851, considered in reference to its employment for the Manufacture of Beet

Root Sugar.

C. Considerations as to the probable Cost of Cultivation of the Sugar Beet in Ireland.

D. Special Report of some Practical Experiments to determine the Amount of Sugar

capable of being Manufactured from Irish grown Beet.

E. Tables referred to in the preceding portions of the Report and Appendix:

Table I -Representing the Per Centage of Sugar, &c., in the several Specimens

of Beet examined.

Table II. — Showing the Relative Proportion of Foreign Ingredients in the Juice, as indicated by the difference between the Density found by Observation, and that which the Juice should have if it was a solution of Pure Sugar.

Table III Table representing the Per Centage of Gravel, and its Minera-

logical Character, in the Soils and Subsoils upon which the Specimens of Beet examined were grown.

Table IV Representing the Composition of the Soils upon which the Speci-

mens of Beet examined were grown.

Table V. Tabulated results of Answers to Queries as to the position of the

Land, present condition of Tillage, Rotation of Crops pursued, &c., of several of the Beet soils analyzed.

Table VI Table representing the Per Centage of Sugar, &c., in the several

Specimens of Long Red Mangel Wurzel, Yellow Globe Mangel Wurzel, Turnips, &c., examined.

Table VII.— Table representing the Results of Inquiries relative to the Produce, &c., of Beet grown in Ireland in 1851.

F. Report on the Composition of the Swedish Turnips and other Root Crops, prepared

at the request of the Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland.

Appendix A.

Queries relative to the Cultivation of the Sugar Beet.

County , Parish.

Barony , Townland.

1. What is the probable depth of tilled soil 1

2. What is the presumed depth of your subsoil i

3. IIow is your land exposed, whether to the North or South, &c.

4. Is it flat or inclined, and if the latter, at what angle ?

5. Is it much exposed to or sheltered from winds, especially from North and North-East 1 ?

6. What is your usual rotation 1

7. What crop did you grow on the land under Beet this year, in the year 1819, 1850 1

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Queries relative to the Cultivation of Sugar Beet. 1 1

8. Wliat manure, and what quantity per statute acre, did you employ for the crop of 1849 ?

9. What was the resulting produce ?

10. What manure, and what quantity per statute acre, did you employ for the crop of 1850 ?

1 1. What was the resulting produce ?

12. Is the land thorough drained 1

13. Has it been subsoiled, and to what depth 1

14. Could you give an estimate of the expense of tillage per statute acre, for this year’s crop of Beet, stating the cost of the several items, such as number and expense of ploughings, harrowings, weedings, lioeings, and cost of seed, &c. 1

15. What is the estimated value per acre of the land 1

16. What is the present poor-rate per acre ?

17. What is the amount of county cess and other charges?

18. Have you grown any other green crops, and if so, could you give the results in the following tabular form ?

Name of Crop and Variety.

Time of Sowing.

Time of Pulling.

Manure

ployed.

Quantity

per

Statute

Acre;

Total Cost of Manure.

Mode

and

Time of applying Manure.

of

Bulbs.

of

Tops.

Remark:-

Sugar Beet (nara- ; ing variety), .

Yellow Globe

Mangels, . . .

White Globe do., Long Red Mangels,

Swedish Turnips, Parsnips, . . i .

White Belgian Carrot, .... &c., &c.

,19. What is the usual price of turnips per ton in your district (sold in the field) S

20. What are the highest and lo west prices you have ever known turnips to sell for ? (stating whether carted to any distance, &c.)

21. What is the usual price of mangel wurzel (orange globe or long reds) per ton in your district, sold in the field ?

22. What are the highest and lowest prices you have ever known mangels to sell for in your district 1 (stating whether carted to any and what distance.)

23. What would you consider a remunerating price for white Silesian beet carted say on an average 2^ miles ?

24- What could you get roots carted for in your district per ton per mile, for distances not exceeding 5 miles 1

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Appendix B.

Special Report on the Composition of the White Silesian Beet grown in Ireland in 1851, considered in reference to its employment for the Manufacture of Beet Sugar, prepared under the direction of Sir Robert Kane, Director of the Museum of Irish Industry. By William R. Sullivan and Alphonse Gages, Chemical Officers of the Museum.