Beet-root sugar and cultivation of the beet

Preface

The experience of Europe In the failure of their supply of cotton, caused by the late war, should teach the United States not to depend too exclusively upon foreign countries for her supply of so necessary an article as Sugar, of which the consumption is about 400,000 tons, while the production of all kinds within her borders is less than 50,000 tons ; leaving 350,000 tons to be imported.

In case of war with a great maritime power, like England or France, which would, in part at least, prevent importation, sugars would necessarily advance enormously.

The emancipation of slaves in the onty remaining strongholds of slavery — Cuba and Brazil (which is simply a question of a very few years) — would probably, at first, as it has always done elsewhere, diminish the production of sugar in those countries at least fifty per cent.

If such should prove to be the case, as this production exceeds 600,000 tons, the diminution would make so serious an inroad upon the ordinary supplies of the world that prices would materially advance.

It is, without doubt, within the power of the United

4 PREFACE.

States to produce, within her own borders, not only all the sugar she requires for home consumption, but also to become a large sugai'-exportlng country, and that within a very few years. It is believed that the sugar beet is the plant destined to eflect this revolution, and the reasons are set forth in the following pages.

The object of this book is to call attention to the importance of beet-sugar production in the Old World, and to demonstrate the advantage and feasibility of establishing it in the United States.

Part I. is chiefly devoted to the history of beet sugar, and the relative advantages of Europe and North America for Its production.

Part II. is wholly agricultural in its character, and gives instruction for the choice of soil suitable for the cultivation of beets ; the methods of preservation ; of raising the seed ; and of the preservation and use of the pulp.

Basset, in his work, " Guide Pratique du Fabricant de Sucre," says, " The manufacture of sugar from beets Is one of the most important elements of public prosperity.

" Resting on agricultural progress and the wants of a constantly increasing population, allied by reason of the cattle which it supports with the production of meat and bread, based upon Improving cultivation, it renders to modern society the greatest services, at the same time that it attains for itself the highest point of prosperity and glory to which any industry ever had the ambition to aspire."

Part I. Page

Sugar. Supply of the United States. — Manufacture of Beet-root Sugar in Europe. — Location favorable for its Production in the United States. — Value of Land and of Coal 7

History of Beet-root Sugar. Its Discovery. — Early Experiments. — Extent of its Production and Use in Europe. — Production in France and in Germany. — Prices from 1816 to 1866. — Consumption of Sugar in Europe. — Production of Sugar in the World. — Quality of Beet-root Sugar. — Taxes 9-25

Supply of Beets. Extent and Cost of their Cultivation.

— Average Yield. — Saccharine Contents. — Profits of Cultivation. — Cost in France. — Probable Cost in the United States. — Advantages of Beet Culture. . . . 26-39

Cost of Beet-root Sugar in France. Methods of Manufacture. — Detailed Cost of Manufacture. — Yield of Sugar. — Cost of Labor 40-46

Profits on Beet-root Sugar. Estimated Profits in the United States. — Ability to Compete with other Countries.

— Recent Improvements in Europe 47-54

Production of Sugar in Various Countries. Relative

Yield of the Cane and of the Beet 55,56

Attempts to Manufacture Beet-root Sugar in the

United States 57-63

General Advantages of Beet-root Sugar Manufacture. Efiect produced in Europe by the Manufacture of Beet-root Sugar. — Probable Efiect of its Introduction into the United States. — Opinions of Distinguished Men 68-78

CONTENTS.