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BEET SUGAE:

CONTAINING

1st. A DESCRIPTION OF THE CULTURE AND
PRESERVATION OF THE PLANT.

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M 2d. AN EXPLANATION OF THE PROCESS OF M
g EXTRACTING ITS SUGAR. ^

^ PRtCEDED ^

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<^ BY A FEW REMARKS ON THE ORIGIN AND PRESENT STATE OF THE ^

INDIGENOUS SUGAR MANUFACTORIES

OF

FRANCE.

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Translated from the works of Dubruufaut, De Domballe. and others. ^

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NORTHAMPTON : ^

PUBLISHED BY J. H. BUTLER. ^

Boston, Hilliard, Gray, &. Co New-York, D. Appleton & Co. ^

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Philadelphia, William Marshall & Co Buffalo,

T. & M. Butler.

1837.

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dicRteH below.

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NOTICE

' ON THE

B E E T rS U G A E :

C O itr A I N I N G

1st. A DESCRIPTION OF THE CULTURE AND PRESERVATION
OF THE PLANT,

2d. AN EXPLANATION OF THE PROCESS OF EX-
TRACTING ITS SUGAR.

PRECEDED
BY A FEW REMARKS ON THE ORIGIN AND PRESENT STATE OF THE

INDIGENOUS SUGAR MANUFACTORIES
^ FRANCE.

Translated from the works of Dubrimfaut, De Domballe, and others.

NORTHAMPTON:
PUBLISHED BY J. H. BUTLER.

BOSTON, HILLIARD, GRAY, & Co, NEW- YORK, D. APPLETON, &. CO.
PHILADELPHIA. Wm. MARSHALL, & Co.

1837.

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Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 1837, hj

J. H. BUTLER,
In the Clerk's Office, of the District Court of Massachusetts.

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J. a dt C. ADAMS, PrinteH,

Ajuiierst, Mass.

TO THE READER.

As I am conscious I owe some apology to my Readers
for the crude compilation I am about to offer, I must beg
to be allowed a very few words in explanation. Having"
a property near Paris in 1830, it was my intention to.de-
vote it to the culture of the Beet, and there to establish a
manufactory of indigenous sugar, these undertakings were
already generally successful in France, and I then was, and
I still am, fully persuaded, that this eminently important
discovery, must sooner or later prove of inestimable value
to our country ; and that the experiment I was about to
make, might prepare me to assist at some future time in
its introduction. With these views, I collected such in-
formation from books and otherwise as I could ; but before
my project was matured, a Revolution suddenly burst upon
France ; every thing became unsettled there, and any
thing but encouraging for anew undertaking; I immedi-
ately renounced my intention, and determined to return
home. The project which I was forced to forego has ever
remained a favorite one, and nothing but an occasion was
wanting to induce me to call the attention of my country-
men to the subject of the following pages ; that occasion
has now arrived, a just sense of the advantages France is
gathering from her Indigenous Sugar manufactories is
fast gaining ground with us, information is eagerly sought,
and I am desirous (for want of better) to impart what little
I have been able to collect. In this town, the matter has
lately been taken up in the most spirited manner: some

IV

gentlemen have united, and engaged in their service. M.
Maxamin Isnard, French Vice Consul in Boston, a gfen-
tleman every way fitted to render them, and the cause, the
most efficient aid, he was amongst the very first in France,
to contribute his talents and labors to the success of this
discovery, and such was the confidence his services inspir-
ed, that he was appointed so early as 1811, by the Imperi-
al Government, superintendant of a school of instruction
established at Strasburg, at the public expense, for the
purpose of fitting young men to take the management of
the sugar manufactories, which were beginning then to
spring up in many parts of France. Mr. Isnard's chemic-
al knowledge, his experience long since acquired on this
subject, his extensive acquaintance with men of science,
and those largely interested in the manufacture of the beet
sugar, peculiarly fit him for the mission with which he is
intrusted of collecting every information as to the frtsent
state of the beet culture ; and most iipproved process of
extracting its sugar ; and, the voyage he has lately under-
taken with this view, cannot fail to produce important and
favorable results.

Measures have already been adopted to insure for tha
approaching season a sufficiency of the sugar beet seed
to be distributed at cost to such farmers as may wish to
try it, they will be procured by Mr. Isnard himself in
France from the best sources and forwarded direct. We
have reason to expect to have at our disposal the approach-
ing season, a crop of two or three hundred acres of beets,
and the means of manufacturing them intd sugar, and the
experiment (if it can be called one) will be fairly made in
the course of the next year. We look with coiifidence to
our legislature for every support and encouragement which
our infant enterprize can fairly ask, the liberality extended
to the indigenous silk producers will not surely be with-

held from us ;. for if there is any one undertaking- which
deserves the special patronage of a wise and paternal gov-
ernment, it is one like ours, which eminently promotes
our first, best, and most permanent source of wealth and
comfort, Agriculture ; this Notice will show how far the
Beet Culture fulfills this condition ; it will he seen that it
does more ; for the 'production of Indigenous Sugar (one
of its consequences) creates an entirely new branch of
manufacture, and that from a product of our own soil, it
offers moreover by its novelty a fresh field to that genius
and enterprize for which our countrymen stand pre-emin-
ently conspicuous.

Though the following information may be quite inade-
quate to satisfy the reasonable expectation of a reader, yet
it should be remembered that some benefit may flow from
these hints, they may attract attention to a subject of
great moment, little known, and less understood, and in-
duce some more valuable contributions to our common
stock of knowledge; should such be the result my object
will be completely attained ; I shall have thrown in my
mite.

EDWARD CHURCH.

Northampton, l^th. December, 1836.

INTRODUCTION.

A NEW and most important source of wealth and prosperi-
ty has prevailed within a few years in Europe, and more
particularly in France, which bids fair to render that coun-
try entirely independent of all foreign supplies for one of
the essential articles of its consumption. Early in this
century, some remarkable experiments of the Prussian
Chymist Margraff on the Beet Root, induced Achard,
another man of science, to found in Silesia a manufactory
of Sugar from this plant on an extensive scale ; his suc-
cess induced the establishment of others of the like nature
in the same Province, and in 1811 this new branch of In-
dustry made its way into France under the special patron-
age of the Imperial Government and to all appearance per-
ished with it ; the general impression seemed to be, that it
was a hollow dream, induced by the extreme rigor with
which Napoleon's continental system was enforced, and
must vanish as soon as those restrictions were removed.
But these anticipations, founded on a superficial view of
things, have been abundantly refuted by the event; a few
of the most substantial manufacturers were able to weath-
er the storm for some years, whilst the process of extract-
ing the sugar was gradually improving; their persever-
ance under the most disheartening discouragements was
crowned with success, and encouraged new undertakings
until at the present day we find the number to exceed four
hundred, and this year from 60 to 80 millions of pounds
of sugar will be supplied to France, the product of her

8

own soil, and the industry of her citizens ! and this too at
a price to the manufiicturer who understands his business,
not exceeding four io five cents per lb. a cost (moderate as
it is) constantly diminishing by an improving process, and
better machinery. But *an abundant supply, at a cheap
rate, of a very essential article of consumption, important
as it surely must be considered, is not the only advantage
to which we are to look in the culture of the sugar Beet ;
every man who has the least knowledge of agriculture is
aware how important to the improvement of land is the
introduction of a culture destructive to weeds; artificial
meadows will not alone answer the desired object, weeded
crops must form a part of a sound system, and it is to these
that Flanders and some other countries owe their agricul-
tural riches, but generall}^ speakingthe expense and atten-
tion required has proved an insuperable obstacle. The
establishment of manufactories of Beet Root Sugar would
unquestionably be the most effectual means of introducing
this, with the best rotation of crops, and producing one of
those rare and happy revolutions in the prosperity of a na-
tion, which if not thoroughly understood by contempora-
ries will nevertheless be noted by posterity as an epoch in
its agricultural and commercial wealth. It must not be
supposed that the benefits anticipated will be limited to the
extent of territory necessary for the supply of the raw ma-
terial for these manufactories ; or when once the benefits
of the root crops are clearly demonstrated, as they unques-
tionably must be, by the wants of the sugar manufacturer,
farmers will see that not only Beets, hut potatoes, carrots^
and many other varieties cultivated as food for cattle of-
fer an easy and profitable means of varying their ro-
tations and supplying at the same time the largest possi-
ble amount of nutriment for their stock and as a conse-
quence, the best -way of producing manure in abund-

ance and therewith ample crops. That this has been the
constant result of the establishment of beet root sugar
manufactories in France the surrounding country clearly
shows, they not only confer a benefit on their neighbor-
hood by the capital expended there, but teach the inhabi-
tants liow they can employ this capital most usefully; the
consequence is that a sentiment almost amounting to en-
thusiasm is now felt in that kingdom in favor of these
new undertakings. Russia, Prussia, Germany, indeed the
whole continent of Europe has now awakened to the pri-
mary importance of indigenous sugar, even in England,
■with all her immense sugar producing colonies in the East
and West Indies, a company has been formed with a capi-
tal of two hundred and fifty thousand pounds to be em-
ployed for this purpose. With such examples before us
can it be for a moment admitted that our country, with all
its advantages of soil and climate, and a people inferior to
no other in enterprise and genius, should long remain be-
hind the rest of the civilized world in the pursuit of an ob-
ject so eminently important. T have no such fear, hut on
the contrary a firm belief that if she was not the first m
the race, she will not long lag behind ; be this as it may,
we shall never I am sure be disposed to contest the praise
due to those enlightened and persevering Frenchmen
who, under every discouragement have reared and pre-
served the precious boon, and must be now justly consid-
ered, not only amongst the benefactors of their own coun-
try, but of the civilized world. To disseminate the fruits
of their experience they spare no pains, gratuitously dis-
pensing them to whoever may ask ; such liberality and
disinterestedness is beyond all praise as it is almost with-
out example : Had these men yielded to popular preju-
dice, to the shafts of ridicule, to pecuniary considerations,
or even to the opinion of men of science, whose sentences

10

were generally considered, on certain subjects, as without
appeal,* this precious discovery would have been lost to
the present generation, and might have remained dormant
for ages, under a persuasion that the manufactureof Su-
gar from the beet had been fairly tested and clearly prov-
ed to be impracticable as a profitable undertaking : But
the courage of these pioneers of the cause was invincible —
they have won and fairly wear the Palm.

As the manufacture of beet root sugar must shortly
excite a degree of interest in our enlightened country pro-
portionate to its real merits, the present state of this new
branch of industry in France, now the school to which
other nations resort for instruction in it, becomes impor-
tant ; and in this little essay I shall make free use of its au-
thors for our benefit : In that kingdom, success is no
longer problematical, it is already attained ; and should it
stop where it is, which cannot reasonably be supposed,
that Kingdom can now supply all the demands of her vast
population with indigenous sugar as cheap, and ere long
cheaper than it can be supplied by her own colonies, —
leaving a great profit to the manufacturer. So thorough-
ly are the .colonies impressed with this important and
alarming truth, that they have called on the mother coun-
try for protection against this formidable Monster, the sub-
ject of their unceasing ridicule whilst in its cradle. A
serious deficit in the Treasury induced by diminished im-

♦ Sir Humphry Davy says in his Treatise on Agricultural Chem-
istry, " The Beet Root gives by ebullition and evaporation of its ex-
tract, ^particular sort of S^igar, of which the general properties
seem to be analogous to those of the Sugar of Grapes, with the ex-
ception that it is rather bitter." It is difficult to conceive, says De
Domballe, how this eminent Chymist could be ignorant that the Su-
gar of Beets is identic with that of the Cane.

11

portations would have disposed ministers to lend afavora-
ble ear to this demand, were they not prevented by mo-
mentous considerations which they dared not disregard.

Having- said thus much as relates to the general pros-
perity of these undertakings in France, I will now pro-
ceed to mention under what peculiar circumstances they
seem more especially to thrive ; for this we must look to
three or four of her northern departments, not that these
are specially favored by nature, for the borders of the Loire
and several other rivers of that kingdom would seem to
offer equal if not superior advantages, possessing a soil as
fertile as that of the northern departments, at a price in-
comparably lower, and fuel in general at a more moderate
price, with a position, geographically speaking, nearly the
same. The advantage of the north then, here principally
arises from the circumstance that these manufactories were
there fi.rst established, that the whole population is disci-
plined to every trade and employment, required by the
manuf.icturer or grower of the beet, and these therefore
dispensed with the cost and trouble of procuring from a
distance the numerous tradesmen and laborers, necessary
to the efficient management of their undertakings; this
state of things is not without its evils, the most essential of
which is a tendency to concentrate in one spot benefits
which it would, (in a national point of view at least) be
desirable to see more widely disseminated. This objec-
tion is, however, gradually disappearing — new establish-
ments are springing up in different parts of France — the
local difficulties are wearing away, and in the mean time
the new manufacturer will receive a compensation for any
increased obstacles he may have for a time to encounter in
the cheapness of land and fuel, and a better market for the
purchase of the raw material.

12

At what price can beet root sugar be made 7 this is
the first and main question to examine ; for on its solution
depends the realization of all the hopes that can be foun-
ded on the ultimate success of its manufacture, the extent
of its production, the amount of land devoted to it, the
number of men employed, in short the demand for and
consumption of the Sugar. I shall endeavor, aided by
late authentic documents to place this matter in the clear-
est and fairest point of view I can, in reference to the state
of things in France, and with these elements we shall I
trust be able to form a pretty correct judgment of what
we ma}'- ourselves expect.

In the first place the cost of the raw material, {the beets)
is on an average of ten establishments situated in different
parts of France 16 francs the 1000 Kilograms, or three dol-
lars 20 cts. for 2200 lbs. there is a prospect that by an im-
proved culture they may be supplied at less than this, leav-
ing thefarmer a handsome profit. But we will take the
Beets as here estimated. In the origin of this manufacto-
ry 2 to 3 per cent, of brown sugar was obtained from 100
lbs Beets, then 4 per cent, were made, then 5 per cent, and
now 6 per cent, of very fine sugar: In some manufactories
the 100 lbs of beets have given 6 1-2, and even more than 7 is
confidently spoken of in some of the accounts I possess
from men worthy of implicit credit, at 6 per cent, the 2200
lbs beets will give 132 lbs sugar.

Purchase of beets 16 francs or. . . 8 3, 20

Expence of manufacturing 2200 lbs of beets (de-
duction made of the value of the pulp cakes, and
molasses), 8 francs. . . . . . .1, 60*

132 lbs of sugar for $ 4, 80

*The aggregate of the expenses of manufacturing, (1000 kilo,
grams,) or 2-200 lbs, of beets, is 12 francs or $ 2, 40 cts, the value of
the pulp and molasses 80 cts. to be deducted leaving $ 1, 60 cts.

13

According to this estimate a pound of sugar costs the
manufacturer Sets., 84-100 ths, now the beet generally con-
tains 10 per cent, of saccharine matter susceptible of cry-
stallization and it is to the imprefection alone of the process
employed in extracting this, that is to be attributed their
obtaining at present but little more than half that amount.
If (as it is quite rational to anticipate,) we shall be able
to extract 8 per cent, the sugar, will then cost the manu-
facturer, but 2 cents. l-5th ! It is difficult to conjecture to
what a prodigious extent the consumption of an article of
such general use might increase by such an extraordinary
reduction in its cost, for there appears to be hardly any
limit to the use of sugar, but that which is drawn by an
inability to purchase it : whilsi Napoleon's continental sys-
tem prevailed, France consumed a fraction more than 1 lb.
•per head, per annum, now she consumes 3 lbs. fer head :
In England, where the price of sugar is more moderate,
than in France, and the ability of the people to purchase it,
generally speaking, greater, the consumption amounts to
sixteen \hs. per head\ In the East and West Indies, the
amount of sugar, used would almost exceed belief In the
Island of Cuba, for instance, it is asserted, that no less, than
120 lbs. per head, are consumed, by the free population !
Whenever, then sugar shall cost, in this country, less than
flour, and half the price of meat, bm in digenous pro-
duction, free from all the contingencies of a foreign sup-
ply, and produced, and consumed almost on the same spot,
who can conceive the extent to which the use of sugar,
may attain ; and when it is considered how essentiaMy,
beneficial the culture of the beet is to the land, on which
it grows, we can hardly doubt that the wealth, and com-
forts, of our country will increase in an equal ratio, for
in fact, the result of this discovery, is to convert into a whol-
some and pleasa'it aliment for Man, a plant of which lit-
2

14

tie was before used except as food, for animals. And let It
not be thought that the beet, is unworthy of a place
amongst the other main sources, from which man derives
his subsistence — a few facts may serve to elucidate the
truth of this position.

It is found that in France, the lands employed to supply
the sugar manufactories with the raw material, produce
on an average from seventeen to eighteen, tons of beets
per acre, there is no reason to believe that ours will fall
short of this, taking then the product of sugar, at 6 per
cent, the amount per acre, would be 2040 lbs. and in some
instances from 4 to 5000 lbs. per acre, have been produced
by a heavy crop of beets. This estimate, by no means
exaggerated, shows clearly that double the iveight of sugar
is obtained from an acre of land, that the same land will
supply in wheat ; again the leaves of the beet supply a
useful manure for the soil which produced it, and the
fulf cakes applied as food for stock give more than an
equivalent for the wheat straw as a means of maintaining
and encreasing, the fertility of the ground. We have seen
that a given surface of land will supply double the weight
of sugar, that it will furnish of loheat, now if the price of
this last product is lower than that of the first, it is solely
because the culture of the beet, and the expense of convert-
ing it into sugar, requires more manual labor ; but it is
precisely on this account that we may fairly look for new
sources of employment for the industry and ingenuity of
our fellow citizens, and increased prosperity for our coun-
try.

Sugar manufactories must then neccessarily increase
the alimentary resources of the country, at the same time
its population, and with that the demand for labor, and
productions of every description, they will moreover sup-
ply agriculture with one of the most effectual means of

15

introducing a good rotation of crops, and artificial grasses,
for these benefits never fail to accompany them. It is pro-
per here to remark, that by the beet culture a new and im-
portant article of food is created without in any manner,
diminishing the usual production of grain, or the feed for
stock, baton the contrary materially increasing them both,
as it is peculiarly fitted to take the place of the fallow^ or
to alternate with crops of grain and thus essentially facili-
tate a good system of farming.

In this anticipation of increased prosperity to our coun-
try in general, from the production of indigenous sugar,
there is nothing fanciful, or exaggerated, and it is especial-
ly applicable to our own Neza England, whose hardy and
enterprising sons are yearly and daily deserting there fire
sides, in pursuit of fortune in ihQ far West, whilst there
own native soil endeared by so many associations contains
mines of wealth which only require to be sought, tobe found.
When therefore it is considered that this culture may
open a new source of profit for our fellow citizens, which
will attach them to their homes I know of no aspect in
which it can be contemplated with equal gratification. If
this agricultural revolutio?i {and perhaps the term is not too
strong) is but a provision with us, it is a reality in France,
and why should it not shortly become so here? I hear it
said that the high price of labor, here is a serious, if not
an insuperable obstacle to our success, but are there not a
thousand countervailing influences in our favored country
that will more than compensate the discrepancy between t^e
wages here and in Europe. I have for sixteen years of my
life had much to do with laborers in Europe, frequently a
a hundred or two laborers and tradesmen at one time in my
employ, and seen enough in my own country to satisfy me
that this subject is much misunderstood by men who have
not had the means of making this comparison ; it is the

16

amount of uwrk performed for a given sum and not the
price of a days labor, that we have to consider, and in this
view of the subject there are few undertakings in which 1
shouldfear competition more particularly where intelligence
and ingenuity, can come in aid of the task. Again/weZ
which enters largely into the expenses of the manufacture
of the beet sugar, is generally incomparably cheaper in our
country than in France ; in the town I inhabit, not 1-3 the
price, land not one quarter, ^(Zares comparatively nothing ;
and no fear hanging over us as it now does over the French
manufacturer, that Government, is standing ready and will
ere long pounce upon him and claim the Lion's portion.
Of those who entertain fears from the comparative price of
labor I should be inclined to ask, how it happens that our
cotton and a variety of other manufactories can stand a
competition even mfoi^eign markets with those of Europe
for many kinds of goods ? the answer is obvious, it is
to the superior intelligence and activity of our country-
men that we owe the prosperity of these undertakings, and
why should not these which are universal elements of suc-
cess work as well in a beet sugar, as a cotton manufacto-
ry : It is true in some few manufactures the almost entire
value of which is the labor required to produce them, and
which demand the aggregation of an endless variety of tal-
ents and krts that time only can produce; such for instance
as the rich and costly tissues of Lyons, in these I admit
we could not expect to compete with any fair prospect of
success, (though in the more common silk goods we might),
nor is it of any importance to us that we should ; the case
before us is very different and far from seeing any cause of
discouragement for the manufactory of indigenous sugar,
I perceive every security for the most complete success.
We have furnished France, and Europe, with many im-
portant discoveries of which they are reaping the advantage.

17

France is now paying as in the same coin, she has traced
the road for us, it is a phiin and easy one, and I am sure
we shall not long remain behind, but contribute largely, by
unfolding the benefits of the precious gift of Margraffand
Achard, to the celebrit}'' of their names, and essentially
promote the riches and prosperity of our country.

CHAPTER I.

OF THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES OP THE BEET, AND THE BEST SORTS TO
BE EMPLOYED.

The 1st variety Beta sylvestris, commonly called Scar-
city plant.

2 do (Beta Alba) Silesian White Beet, recom-

mended as the most productive of Sugar.

3 do White Beet, long and thin.

4 do Red Beet, (Beta Rubra Romana) oblong,

well formed, cultivated principally for the
Table.

5 do Yellow Beet, (lutea major) long, thin.
The 2d variety is now generally tised in preference to

every other and the moderate sized roots are considered to
contain more sugar to their weight than the very large,
this variety is moreover more easily kept, a consideration
of no small moment, especially in our country. Next to
this in point of value comes the yellow 5th variety,
though some, prefer the red skinned beet, white flesh.
The different nature of the soils in which they may have
been cultivated, and difference of seasons may have occa-
sioned this diversity of opinion. Some experiments of the
chymist Payen brought him to the conclusion that they
should stand classed as follows in reference to the amount
2*

18

of crystallizable sugar they would produce to a given
weight.

1. Beta Alba — 2d variety.

2. Lutea Mijor, Yellow Beet — 5th variety,

3. White, pink skin, (a sub variety of the 2d).

4. The striped.

5. The Red— 4th variety).

On the whole, however, it must be admitted that the com^
parative worth of these varieties may be so modified by
climates, soils, and seasons, that too much confidence must
not be attached to the result. Small roots, provided they
have rt ached a perfect maturity to whatever variety they
may belong, are ahva3^s preferable for the Sugar Manufac-
turer to large ones, and that for several reasons,

1. Because they are invariably more abundant in the
saccharine matter, and consequently less watery.

2. Because they are more easily kept, and
o. They are more easily worked.

From these facts there naturally arises a conflicting in-
terest between the Cultivator and the Manufacturer, and
is it not for this reason principally that the 2d variety, the
white beet, seems to have the preference with the gener-
ality of the latter? This root is always comparatively
small. Is it not for this same reason that the 3d variety
which is also a S7)iall root, takes the second rank in their
favor. If the scale furnished by Payen is referred to, it
will be found that the different sorts stand in the order of
their dimensions, the smallest first and the scarcity (Beta
Sylvestris) largest and last. These observations are ex-
tremely important to the agricultural interest. It is easy
enough for the refiner to assign to each beet its propor-
tionate value by comparing its product in sugar to its
v/eight. But this is only one side of the question, and if we
extend this comparison a little farther and ascertain the

19

quantity of sugar supplied by a given surface of ground,
we shall arrive at a very different conclusion ; the large
roots will then be found decidedly preferable in this re-
spect, and the advantage of the farmer in giving a prefer-
ence to these can admit of no doubt, at least till long expe-
rience shall have assigned a proportionate value to each
variety, and a Tariff shall be settled between the producer
and the manufacturer. On the whole, then, we are forced
to conclude that there is no description of beet that may
not be turned to good account under proper management,
this is the opinion of Dubrunfaut, of M. Crespel of Arras,
a manufacturer who will this year himself alone contribute
three millions of pounds of indigenous sugar towards the
consumptiDn of France! I say under prober manage-
ment, because the large and watery roots require a differ-
ent treatment from the smaller and richer sorts, and unless
this is well understood it would certainly be much safer to
use the latter kind only.

A beet of a hard, solid texture, is always preferable to
the soft tough ones, the former will cut brittle, the latter
the reverse. The Areometer, after all, will offer the sur-
est means of discovering the real val'ue of the roots, for this
purpose a certain and equal quantity may be rasped by
hand of the roots to be submitted to trial, the juice is then
expressed through a linen cloth — that which shows the
highest degree on the Areometer (i. e. the greater density)
is the richest in sugar.

The plants intended for seed should be set out three feet
apart every way, when ripe the plant must be cut ddwn
and the seed collected by hand ; it must then be first spread
on a cloth in the open air, then in the sun to dry it com-
pletely; without this precaution this seed is so liable to
heat that it would certainly be injured in the barn. In a
general way twenty plants will give about a bushel of

20

seed. The assertion that the roots which have produced
grain have lost all their saccharine properties is erroneous,
these roots contain generally as much sugar as in the
first year of their vegetation.

CHAPTER II.

CHOICE OF SOILS.

Distinction in the choice of soils for the culture of this
root is exceedingly important : Its nature is to penetrate
low into the ground, and therefore prefers a deep loose
mould, it then vegetates without obstacle ; its radicles
easily collect the nourishment necessary for its support,
and it thrives luxuriantly.

The position of the ground employed for this culture is
not a matter of indifference: in high land the beet suc-
ceeds but imperfectly in dry seasons ; but it is then easily
worked, and produces i7i regard to its weight a more con-
siderable portion of sugar, but as the crop in this case is
light, the result is that the product in sugar is light. Also
on these same high grounds the crops, on the other hand are
abundant in rainy years and the proportionate product of
sugar is very much less than in dry years. In low mar-
shy grounds the case is reversed, in wet seasons the crop
is drowned, and the beet so saturated Avith water, that but
a small quantity of sugar is obtained from it at a great
increase of expense, whilst in tcarm dry years, the crops
are excellent, because the heat and drought are counterac-
ted by the fresh and moist sub-soil. To obtain average
crops it is therefore prudent when it can be done to choose
a situation exposed to neither of these extremes. Never-
theless there are few deep soils, marshes excepted vvhere
the beet under proper culture may not be grown with sue-

21

cess.* One remark however, that hardly admits of dis-
pute is, that as far as experiments have gone the more
northern the latitude in which this plant is placed the more
completely it succeeds. The north of France other things
equal has been found more congenial to the beet than the
south ; German}^ Prussia and Sileria, where this Manu-
facture had its origin, produce a root more productive in
sugar than that of France, and there is every reason to be-
lieve that Russia is among the highly favored Countries,
for the culture of the sugar beet; although the experi-
ments made with us are very limited, yet I have little doubt
that they will bear me out in the belief that many of our
states, New England especially, will not prove inferior to
Russia for this eminently important object. In support of
the opinion that cold climates are peculiarly favorable to
the beet culture; it should be observed that the beets on
which Achard made his experiments in Silesia in the very
infancy of the discovery, and consequently, with a very-
imperfect process, gave a result equal to the maximum of
what has ever been obtained in France under the most fa-
vorable circumstances and that too without the aid of animal
carbon, whilst it is doubtful whether in that kingdom
the production of sugar from the beet could even now
be profitably carried on by a large portion of the manu-
facturers without that all important agent. In 1824 Rus-
sia already possessed a number of successful undertakings
of the kind, and several Russians of distinction visited
France in 182.5 with a view of obtaining the necessary in-
formation, to extend these on a more improved S3'stem ;
Prince Gargarin, Col. Mieshart and M. Poltoroskow were
among the number and all declared, that with bad machin-

♦ The meado-ws of the Connecticut offer probably some of the
finest soil in the United Slates for this culture.

22

ery, a worse process and without animal carbon, they had
produced favorable results. From all these facts no doubt
can remain, that northern climates greatly favor this pro-
duction and that southern are proportionably unfavorable.*
Much astonishment has been expressed by many that this
should be the case. This astonishment may probably be
raced to the analogy which we naturally and involuntarily
conceive exists between the sugar cane under the solar
influence and the beet and other roots which contain sugar
but growing in the earth. The least reflection will show
us that under circumstances so distinct, such a supposi-
tion is groundless. In the cane, that part of the plant which
produces the sugar is above the soil, and requires the di-
rect contact of the sun's rays, the action of which is emi-
nently favored by the structure of the plant itself The
beet on the contrary is a root the part productive of su-
gar is, or ought to be entirely covered with earth, and was
never therefore intended by nature for receiving the sun's
rays, since she has provided it besides its covering of earth
with an ample shield of leaves to shelter any part of it
which may accidently protrude above the soil. These two
distinct modes of formation have then no analogy, and
there is nothing after all surprising in the fact that the
beet should produce in the north a sugar identic with that
supplied by the cane under the burning sun of the tropic.
No doubt, the beet requires the influence of the sun as
well as other plants, but the part containing sugar is only
indirectly submitted to its efl^ects ; thus for instance this
root requires three, four, and sometimes even five months
of vegetation and after that time generally about the month

* This position has been contested by one or two writers, but has
been abundantly maintained by others and what is more b]i expe-
rience.

23

of September it has finished its growth and is acquiring
its maturity, generally attained in less than a month whea
ever the weather is favorable, that is to say dry and warm.
This dryness and heat of the soil produced by a warm sun
renders the beet less watery, and in no other tooyy in^nen'
ces the productiveness of the root in sugar. It is easy
therefore to concieve that northern latitudes may as they
do, offer the most favorable circumstances for the succes^s
of the beet. The seed may be sown in April, or the time
at which generally the frost has left the ground and the
weather becomes favorable for culture ; the roots continue
to grow through June, July, and August, and the heat
which is usually great in high latitudes at this season con-
tinues to the maturity of the plant and is highly favorable
to its richness in saccharine matter. It is well known that
if the northern summers are short, the sun's rays act dur-
ing that season with redoubled intensity, and its rapid in-
fluence on vegetation is a source of surprise and delight to
the inhabitants of more temperate regions.

From all that has been said, therefore, we must conclude
that a manufacture of the beet root sugar has the better
chance of success the farther it is placed (extremes except-
ed) to the north, all other things equal, and in addition to
the other causes which tend to produce this result in favor
of the North, I would venture to suggest whether the se-
\eref70sts of these climates, of New England for instance,
which tend to expand and loosen the soil (a most impor-
tant consideration for the beet) do not exert a powerful
agency in favor of the North. This conjecture seems to
me rational, though I have not met with it anywhere.*

ArgiJaceous and deep soils, with a mixture of silicious

* It is a fact too well known to need observation perhaps that our
North American climates are incomparably colder than those of
Europe under the same parallel of latitude.

24

matter are exceedingly favorable to the growth of the beet ;
chalky soils are less favorable, because they are usually
shallow, and consequently impede the developement of the
root. The sandy soils in the vicinity of the sea-coast
might probably suit them well, as they frequently do other
roots, but I am not aware that the experiment has been
made. Alluvious soils must in general be highly favorable.
In all cases it is suitable that any land devoted to this cul-
ture should have a depth not less than eight or ten inches
of arable land.

CHAPTER III.

OF THE PREPARATION OF THE GROUND,

The importance of thorough ploughing, harrowing, roll-
ing, and all other means of improving soils, is now pretty
well understood ; and no good farmer doubts that they are
as important to production as manuring. All plants do
not require in the sa/he degree these precautions, and those
which require them least, generally rank among exhaust-
ing plants, whilst those that can least dispense with them
are considered fertilizing. The beet is of this latter descrip-
tion and one of the leading advantages which it offers to
agriculture, is the necessity it creates not only of deep and
thorough ploughings, but moreover, the careful culture it re-
quires, and the means necessary for gathering it ; these
must in the aggregate necessarily leave the soil in a highly
improved state, and the benefits therefore to rural econo-
my which an extensive culture of this plant must produce
are incalculable. The rotations recommended in France
are of course various, arising from a diversity of soils, and
also a diversity of opinions. M. De Domballe whose
experience and talents are entiiled to respect, recommends

25

a four years rotation, which he says succeeded remarka-
bly well with him.

1st. year, Wheat, manured.

2 Beets.

3 Barley, or oats with clover.

4 Clover.

M. Dubrunfaut doubts whether this system, could be
followed with advantage in most situations, he objects to
giving all the manure to the wheat, and nothing to the
beets, he would prefer,
1st year Oats,

2 Beets.

3 Wheat with Clover.

4 Clover.

with a heavy manuring once in four years, and a light
one for the others, should it seem necessary. The beet
following in both these rotations a grain crop, the ground
will require a thorough preparation ; that is, tw^o or three
plowings, harrowing and rolling. The first plowing
should be deep ; and the second, (when two only can be
given) should be done just before the sowing.

The following rotation is found to answer well in the
northern Departments of France.
1st year Oats manured.

2 Beets.

3 Wheat.

somethnes Potatoes the 1st year, has been found to answer
well.

The famous beet cultivator, and manufacturer, M.
Crespel of Arras, has raised beets on the same land for
eight years ii succession, and constantly obtained good
crops, a proof that if a change of crops, is, generally speak-
ing, favorable to land, it can nevertheless in good hands,
3

26

be made to produce the same crop for many years without
a depreciation, or a diminution in the produce. There is
also in a continued succession of beets in the same soil a
great saving of labor, because the ground being constant-
ly kept well dug up and loose, by this penetrating plant, re-
quires only one ploughing after harvest, and one or two har-
rowings before planting. In this respect, it is also an ad-
vantage that beets should succeed potatoes.

CHAPTER IV,

OF MANURES.

The object of manures being to excite and procure a
luxuriant vegetation, it follows, that it must in general, in-
crease the size of the beet, now as it is understood that
large roots are more aqueous and less easily worked into
sugar an opinion is professed, and believed by many man-
ufacturers, that manure is unfavorable to this jjlant. This
belief is adverse to every principle of rural economy, and
does not deserve a refutation, for it is clear that as all
means suitable for increasing production are favorable to
agriculture generally; so also are they equally applicable
to the beet, and for this purpose manure is pre-eminently
suitable here. All manures are not, however, equally
beneficial to the beet, and it may be serviceable to mention
here their different modes of action.

Manure from the farm-yard usually composed of a
mixture of horse and cow dung, and sometimes that of
sheep, is excellent for beets ; and should, as far as that is
possible, be laid on before the winter, and intervene between
two piowings, or if but 0??^ is given, Z'c/or^ this, sothrt
it may be turned into the soil. There is no fear of laying
on too muck for it can be of 7io possible injury, to the vege-

27

tation, and it may be safely avered that there never is em-
ployed as much as would be useful ; if there is a mixture
of long straw, it will operate for several years with good
effect.

Sheep manure possesses a remarkable energy, and is
exceedingly appropriate for improving the vegetation of
the beet.

Animal Carbon that has been used in the factory, and
the skimmings from the boilers, which are collected in great
quantity, during the whole time the sugar works are in ac-
tivity, should be carried in preference on to such lands as
are eold and inert, for this manure possesses properties
highly stimulating : this effect is especially to be attributed
to the black color of the carbon, which absorbs the sun's
rays, and imparts them to the soil.

When the beets tire harvested, the top is cut off just to
the. root of the leaves, these during the month required for
this object, form considerable masses and cannot be fed
away, they remain on the ground ; decompose, and serve
to enrich the land they cover-

Another good manure is produced by the scrapings of
the beets mixed with the earth which covers them, the
fibres, ends of roots, &c. collected in cleaning the roots for
the rasps, as we shall more particularly explain in another
place.

CHAPTER V.

OF SOWING.

The beet seed is usually sown in France on the first fine
days in the Spring, that is to say the end of March, or in
the course of the month of April ; however if the season
should be late or the weather unfavorable, it can be done

28

safely in the month of May, or even June, but it is better if
possible to do it earlier. It is desirable for beets, as well
as for other seed, to choose a day when the ground is moist,
so that the grain may soften, and germinate quickly.

From seven to eight pounds of seed per acre is
the usual quantity employed, and it will not, if grown by
the farmer himself, cost him over twenty cents or twenty
five at most per pound.

It may happen that in consequence of a season too wet,
or too dry, that the seed does not come up, or comes up
so thin, as to be of little value. If this accident pro-
ceeds from weather too wet, there is no other resource but
to sow again. If on the contrary, it arises from too dry
w^eather it is proper to wait for a favorable change, and in
such case it will be found that the germination has only
been retarded. It is not an uncommon thing to see seed in
such cases sprout well a month or six weeks and even two
months after they have been sown. Again, it will some-
times happen after sowing, that /ro.?^ may attack the sprout
about to appear, or that has appeared ; in such case there
, is no other remedy than to sow over again, for it would be
in vain to expect that the seed should germinate a second
time. In such a case it is nevertheless prudent to wait a
fortnight or three weeks after the frost to ascertain beyond
doubt whether the vegetative faculty is really destroyed, or
only suspended.

These different accidents separately, or combined often
unluckily, oblige the farmer to sow more than once, but
fortunately, the beet on the other hand, will generally ad-
mit of the delays consequent to these disappointments ; an
advantage which many other plants could not. Three sow-
ings may be sometimes required ; the first, as I before said*
about the end of March, then if unfavorable circumstances
prevent or delay vegetation, it is proper to wait till the end

20

of April, or perhaps even to the beginning of June, then
sow for the second time, and if this even should fail, the
third is recommended in France to be tried even if a month
late r.

That ho disappoinment may arise from a want of seed, it
is always proper after estimating the quantity of land to be
sown, to provide seed for at least half as many acres more,
that is to say, if eight pounds are required for an acre, to
provide twelve pounds for every acre to be sown, this would
occasion an expense of about three dollars an acre for
seed, at the price it may be produced.

A sowing lost must always be a source of considerable
disappointment to the farmer, for it not only obliges to new
expense for seed, and labor, but reduces his prospects of a
favorable crop by restricting bis time for the cultivation
and harvesting ; however this may be, there is no doubt it
is belter for him to obtain but an indifferent return in beets,
than to leave his ground in fallow.

As, has been before said the ground to be in a proper
state to receive the seed should be thoroughly and deeply
ploughed and well harrowed and rolled, and moreover suffi-
ciently manured.

The distance between the roots, in a good rich soil, should
be about a foot in the rows, in land less fertile about fifteen
inches and in a close clayey soil eighteen inches or even
two feet. These premises are applicable to all the methods
of sowing of which we are about to speak.

1. Broad cast, which involves thinning and transplanting
where required.

2. Sowing in nursery beds for the purpose of trans-
planting the whole crop,

3. Drilling thinning and transplanting where required.
These three methods have their respective advantages

30

and disadvantages. We shall now examine them in suc-
cession and explain the methods, practiced.

Section I. — Sowing the beet seed broad east. This
mode is liable to many objections.

1. The increased quantity of seed required from the
irregularity with which it is necessarily spread,

2. The operation of thinning (where too thick) to do
which without injury to the plants intended to remain, re-
quires experience, and attention, this is not a serious diffi-
culty

3. The tra7ispl.anii?ig, to replace deficiences in the rows
is attended with weighty objections in the first place it is
necessary to wait before this should be undertaken till the
plant has attained the size of the finger ; that is about a
month or six weeks after the vegetation has begun, at this
time the plants are growing vigorously, and after thinning,
(which is done simultaneously with the first weeding) the
root which has not been disturbed, in a fortnight has under-
gone a surprising change, whilst the transplanted ones are
languishing under the effects of their removal, and before
they recover their vigor, are frequently over shadowed and
stifled, by their robust and thriving neighbors, or at least re-
main weak and puny plants, nevertheless wherever the
broad cast method is practised, no doubt transplanting is an
unavoidable consequence and must be done, but much return
need not be expected from the plants so treated. On the
whole this mode of sowing though frequently practised in
France, is decidedly very inferior to sowing in drills, of
which we shall presently speak, which last method must
necessarily prevail over every other now practised, as soon
as its advantages are properly understood.

Section II. — Soioing in nursery beds for the purpose of
transplanting the whole crop. This method is recommended
by De Domballe: the seed is sown in beds prepared in the

31

best manner, and occupying about one 1 0th of the surface
which the plants are intended to cover when transplanted,
when at the end of a month or six weeks, the plants have
reached the size of the finger, they are pulled up made in
bundles and carried into the field, here the laborer provided
with a dibble makes his holes to the depth and at the dis-
tance required, children usually follow, place the plants
in the holes, and with their feet press the earth up to the
roots. This operation is done pretty quickly, some agri-
culturists think it necessary to cut off the end of the root, but
this opinion is considered by others to be unfounded and
injurious as it prevents the plant from penetrating by one
principal taproot into the soil, and engenders a number of
small roots and fibres, that are not only unproductive of
sugar, but increase the difficulty and consequently the ex-
pense of cleaning the plant; besides the root itself is less
bulky and the crop therefore diminished. It seems then on
the whole decidedly objectionable to cut off" the taproot
when transplanting beets, and the whole system indeed of
transfla^nting when applied to entire crops would seem to be
equally bad, and probably the worst of the three employ-
ed, for —

1. If the land cultivated is extensive, it follows of course
that the pulling up and planting many acres must require
prodigious labor and very great expense, again. —

2. The transplantation taking place at least a month or
six weeks after the sowing, carries us forward to a period
when the weather may not be favorable to the young plants
taking root, which would necessarily delay the vegetation
and throw the crop back to a time when the season for re-
sowing may have gone by.

3. The chances, difficulties, and expense of this method
do not seem to be compensated by any countervailing ad-
vantages, unless (which cannot be admitted) we may con-

32

sider a saving- of seed to a small amount worthy of consid-
eration ; It is nevertheless as we have before said recom-
mended by that distinguished agriculturist De Domballe
or it would not perhaps otherwise have been worthy of con-
sideration.

Section III. — Drilling, thinning, and trans'planting
where required. This method consists in drilling in the
seed in lines at the distance required, sowing a sufficiency
of seed to supply by the superabundant plants all deficien-
cies from the failure of vegetation.

The first steps towards this important improvement in
the mode of sowing the beet seed consisted in tracing fur-
rows, with a harrow prepared for the purpose at equal dis-
tances followed by laborers equal in number to the furrows,
in these were dropped the seeds at a suitable distance from
each other. Then followed another harrow with the teeth
inverted which covered the seed. The advantage of this
method was very soon perceived, and at the same time its
imperfections, to remedy these, a number of tools were in-
vented. Among the best of these is undoubtedly Hill's
horse drill ; for besides the great saving of time and seed
and the regularity with which this is distributed, the labor
required for weeding, rolling, harrowing, and gathering,
becomes much easisr and cheaper.

So decided a superiority, must necessarily introduce it
amongst intelligent farmers here, as well as in France and
England where -it is getting into general use, and proper-
ly appreciated ; with this drill, the seed is sown at any
given distance with perfect regularity, covered and rolled
at one operation : the distance between the drills is usually
2 feet 6 inches ; that between the plants one foot or more
according to the soil ; the distance between the rows (of
2 1-2 feet) is sufficient to admit the use of a Horse hoe.

33

CHAPTER VI.

W'EEDINGS AND OTHER LABOR NECESSARY FOR THE PROPER CULTIVA-
TION OF THE BEET.

Weeding is generally performed in France by wo-
men or children ; they follow the rows, and with a small
light hoe chop out the weeds and collect them in small
piles where they are left to rot.

This operation is indispensably necessary for the beet,
and it should be repeated three times during its growth.
The first time vA^hen the beet has attained the size of the
••■finger or before ; and second and third, may follow at from
three to four weeks apart. In all cases where the beet has
attained a sufficient size to shade the ground, weeding is
useless ; it will then protect itself sufficiently from all nox-
ious plants. It may be proper here to remark, that the
importance of weeding, generally speaking, is not adequate-
ly appreciated ; and were it only for the purpose of clearly
demonstrating its importance to the agricultural interest
(no matter to what crop applied) the introduction of the
beet culture would confer on that account alone, a benefit
on the country which it would be difficult sufficiently to
appreciate.

In the drill culture, the horse hoe may be used with
great advantage, and may in a day hoe from three to four
acres. This tool, however, (as it will be perceived) can
only facilitate the first, but hardly the second weeding.
It merely works the soil between the lines in their longitu-
dinal direction ; the weeders, therefore, must necessarily
follow 'it to complete what is left imperfectly finished in the
lines and between the plants. In Flanders where this op-
eration is thoroughly understood and done by women and

34

children ; the weeding of an acre does not cost over 60cts.
each weeding; but this expense must necessarily be more
with us, where wages are higher and practice is yet want-
ing.

If weeding with the horse hoe alone is an imperfect
operation, it is nevertheless highly beneficial in more than
one respect it not only in a great measure clears the
ground of noxious plants, but turns it over and loosens it
to the depth of one or two inches, and in so doing is useful
not only to the present, but the following crop.

CHAPTER VII.

GATHERING THE BEET ROOT.

It is easy to ascertain the proper time to gather the beet,
it is manifested by appearances which can hardly be mis-
taken. The leaves which during the vegetation were of
a deep green, firm, and erect, now become covered with
brownish spots, are curly, droop towards the earth, and
finally assume a yellow tint ; they have ceased to vegetate,
as also the root which is now ready for the manufacturer
and will not increase in volume. They are generally
found in this state in the month of September or October,
climates and seasons will of course advance or retard this
maturity.

It is not desirable to gather in the whole harvest before
the sugar Factory begins its operations ; the works may
be supplied from the time the beet is ready till the end of
October or beginning of November, by beets gathered dai-
ly in the field and taken to the works.

It is extremely important in gathering the beet to choose
if possible, favorable, that is to say, dri/ weather. A field
of beets dug in a rainy, will furnish roots much more
aqueous, than if gathered in a dry time.

85

It is therefore, prudent as soon as the plant has reached
maturity to profit of the first favorable occasion to secure
it against any adverse contingencies ; more particularly as
the chance of these increases as the season advances.

There are other advantages exceedingly important in
gathering the beet in dry weather ; for instance, the dig-
ging is much facilitated, and the earth attached to the
fibres of the roots is easily detached by simply shaking
it when dry, whilst when wet it adheres firmly, and in con-
siderable quantities, so that it requires more expense for
carriage to the factory, is more difficult to clean, and oc-
casions a collection of earth where cleaned which more or
less embarasses this operation. When the root is out of
the ground, and the weather dry and warm, it should be
left in the field where it will be improved for all the pur-
poses of manufacture; the state of the roads too is more
favorable for wagoning in fine weather, and this is no tri-
fling consideration, when it is a question of the carriage of
perhaps several hundred tons.

Having now taken a general view of the harvesting the
beet, it may be well to consider the details of this operation
separately.

1st The disfCTlnof.

2 The mode of cutting off the top.

3 The collecting in piles and carriage to the store

houses.
Section I. When the time for taking up the beets
has arrived, a number of laborers proportionate to the
amount of work and the celerity required in its execution,
is to be provided, to dig, top, and pile them for the wag-
gons. The workmen are divided two and two; to each
couple one spade is neccessary and this given to the strong-
est hand, who forces it perpendicularly, into the ground
near the beet, but so as to avoi^l injuring it, and usin?^ the

36

handle as a lever throws up the root, the boy who follows
takes one in each hand by the neck and by striking them
against each other detaches as much of the earth as he
can, and then lays them in a line the roots on one side and
the neck on the other.

Section II. — Cutting off the iojjs. When the beets
are disposed in lines, as has been described in the preced-
ing section, a man with a sharp spade follows between the
lines, and with a stroke of the spade cuts off the tops, one
at each blow : with a little habit this is done so expeditious-
ly, that a single man will in France, top more beets than
can be dug and disposed in lines by twenty. It is essen-
tial that this cutting off the top should be managed with
care and skill, so that he should neither take off too much
nor too little ; it is the extreme, or neck of the beet, which
should alone be cut off This operation is intented to pre-
vent a new vegetation of the leaves, which w^ould frequent-
ly happen if they were only fulled ofi^ and this sprouting
would considerably diminish the saccharine principle in
the root. It is only done therefore, for the preservation of
this ; for it occasions a wound in the root which, after all
is only the lesser of two evils.

Section III. — Collecting in piles, and carriage to the
store-houses. When the beets are dug and topped it is well
to let them remain spread over the ground for some days
to dry the wound made by the last operation, described ;
this exposure will be favorable to the plant in other re-
spects if the weather is dry and warm ; in this case, in-
deed, it cannot be exposed too long; but if rainy, injury
instead of benefit might be expected.

Whenever it is considered that the beets have been
sufficiently long on the field they are to be collected in
files containing on one square yard the produce of sixty
to a hundred. A number of these must be made in the

37

most convenient way for the wagons to load, these piles
may without injury, but rather with advantage remain
in the field, for a few days if desirable. This piling
not only facilitates the loading, but prevents injury to
the roots which would be unavoidable if the wagons were
to enter a field covered promiscuously with the roots ;
whereas, none can happen when they are piled as describ-
ed. In the departments of the north of France, the cost
of digging, topping, and piling an acre of roots, does not
exceed two dollars. The expense of wagoning to the
store-house, must necessarily be very variable, from the
the state of the roads, the distance, &c. But supposing
that the fields are at a suitable distance from the manufac-
. tory, and that a three horse wagon will load from thirty
hundred to two tons, and costs two dollars a-day to the farm-
er ; then the carriage of an acre of roots will cost about
three dollars, which may be considered an average in
France, The leaves remain on the soil, and are estimated
to be equivalent to a light manuring.

CHAPTER VIII.

PRESERVATION OF THE BEETS.

The preservation of the beets for four or five months, is
necessarily an indispensable condition to the success of the
sugar manufactory, and it is also one of the operations
which requires the closest attention.

If the beet could be managed in the same way, the cane
is, i. e. manufactured as it is taken from the field, there
would be no difficulty ; but such is not the case. The beets
must, as we have seen, be gathered in September or Octo-
ber, and preserved till January or February. This import-
ant object is best effected by avoiding the stowing of them in
4

38

very large masses, by giving them air, and keeping them
dry, and in a temperature as near as possible to 54° Fah-
renheit. When the manufactory of sugar was first begun
in France, but little precaution was taken to preserve the
roots, they were piled in large heaps in yards or under
sheds ; the only precaution taken, was to throw straw over
those that were not under cover; and it w^as not long be-
fore the evils of this carelessness became apparent; the
beets were frozen; so long as they remained in this state,
the manufacturing of them into sugar experienced no un-
favorable result, except in an increased difficulty in rasp-
ing, but the moment a thaw supervened, decomposition of
course followed, and sugar making was at an end. It was
remarked that the roots richest in sugar were the last to
freeze; they would resist any temperature above 9°, whilst
the most aqueous roots would freeze at 25° of Fahren-
heit. If suitable store-houses are not at hand to secure the
beet, trenches may be dug near the sugar works, on ground
high and dry, four feet deep, if quite safe from water, oth-
erwise more shallow; the width should be from three to
four feet at most, the length must be determined by the lo-
cality, and other circumstances. The trenches thus pre-
pared, the roots are brought and thrown in without order,
and when full, the middle is raised with earth so as to form
a roof, and covered with not less than from a foot and a
half to two feet of soil. In this manner the roots are kept
perfectly safe, particularly if they have been gathered in
dry weather. There is nothing to fear from this method,
but a wet soil ; in France, a covering of 18 inches is al-
ways sufficient for the protection of the root, with us per-
haps, two feet might be better. It was at first supposed that
a coating of straw was beneficial to the preservation of the
beet in the trench, but experience has shown that it was
injurious.

39

Cellars in general being more or less damp, besides the
very large quantity required to be heaped together to fill
these ; the expense of making them and ventilating the
beets, when in such masses, to prevent heating and fer-
mentation are serious obstacles to this method.

Store-houses incontestably offer the most convenient and
best method of presevation for the beet, they should be near
the sugar works. The walls should be of sufficient thick-
ness to prevent the frost from penetrating ; they should
have sky-lights, sufficient for the work-men there employ-
ed, but no w^indows.

The beets are disposed in layers of 15 to 16 feet high,
and not more, because the weight of these columns press-
ing always on the lower strata, might injure them if in-
creased. To prevent this, before the roots are brought to
the ware-house, bundles of brush wood are disposed on
the floor or ground six inches deep, then piles of these of a
foot thick are placed eight feet apart, and in the intervals
are stowed away the beets ; each pile of brush wood doing
the duty of a ventilator, constantly renewing, the air; a
passage should be preserved the whole length of the build-
ing, so that in case of any appearance of fermentation at
any point, the injured roots might be easily removed.

A cubic yard of beets w411 generally weigh about 1350
lbs. Let us suppose that 6,000,000lbs. are to be worked
up during the 5 months, that the manufactory is in opera-
tion, and that for two months of that time the roots will
be used as taken from the field 3-5ths only or 3, 600,000
lbs. require to be stored for the supply of the sugar works,
for the last three months. To find the number of cubic
yards required in a building for this purpose, it is only to
divide the 3,600,000 by 1350 (the weight of a cubic yard
of beets,) this gives us 2666 and a fraction, as the whole
number of cubic yards to be provided for.

40

It is not desirable that the building should exceed 9 yards
in width, nor that the beets should be piled over 6 yards
in height ; these numbers multiplied by the other, give 54
yards as the cubic capacity of a transverse section of the
store-house in one yard of its length, to find the lohole
length required, we have therefore only to divide 2,666
i. e. the whole capacity by 54, this gives us (within a frac-
tion,) 50 yards as the length wanting.

But as there is a passage to be reserved the whole length
of the building, and some additional room for the brush
Avood before mentioned, as necessary for the preservation of
the roots, we will consider 60 instead of 50 yards as the
suitable length for storing 3,600,000lbs. of beets.

I do not find that any attempts have been made in France
to raise the temperature in the store houses, ahhough it is
admitted that in severe winters, the frost has sometimes
penetrated into them, and injured the beet ; it seems to me
that a steam pipe passing through the buildings might com-
pletely obviate any danger from this accident ; in case of
need, a small portion of the steam constantly at hand in
the factory, might be turned into the pipes, for the purpose
of heating the store house with perfect success, and at an
inconsiderable expense, as the necessity would probably
but rarely occur.

PART II.

OF THE MANUFACTURE OF THE BEET SUGAR.

Having- explained what relates to the culture of the
beet, and the method of obtaining from the earth the great-
est amount of these, and the best mode of preserving them,
it is proper now, to proceed to describe briefly, the most ap-
proved process employed for obtaining from the beet the
finest quality, and the greatest quantity of sugar. It ha^
already been noticed, in the introduction to this little essay,
how many, and how great were the difficulties with which
the first manufactures of the beet root sugar had to strug-
gle in France. — -Their ignorance of the proper mode of
cultivating and managing the plant, the political catastrophe
which deprived them of the protection they so much need-
ed^ and inundated the country with foreign sugar, in short
overthrew all their calculations, prostrated their credit, and
almost their hopes. Yet such proved to be the intrinsic
worth of this discovery, that it finally carried them through
triumphant, and is at this day, deservedly a source of pride
and prosperity to them, and to their Country.

A new and all important auxiliary to the success of the
manufacture (and which I have before noticed,) was
brought into use in 1812. — This was the application
of the decolorating properties of a7iimal carbon to the man-
ufacturing and refining of beet root sugar, by M. Ch. Du-
rosne ; this discovery produced most surprising results in
every trade and employment, in which sugar is in any
manner used. It is now, in fact an indispensable agent
to the confectioner, the refiner, and the manufacturer of beet

4^

CHAPTER I.

CLEANSING OF THE BEET ROOTS.

The object of this operation is, to separate from the roots
the green parts of the neck, which may not have been re-
moved, the radicles, the defective parts, and the earth and
the gravel, which may adhere to these; when this is prop-
erly done, the washing should it be required (which is not
the case in many places,) is easily and quickly performed.
In all cases the cleansing should be effectually done, other-
wise the gravel and earth (should there any remain,) will
injure the rasps. Women and children perform this op-
eration in France. For this purpose, each hand is provi-
ded with a sharp knife from 2 to 3 inches broad and 10
long, wHth this tool seated near a pile of beets, the laborer
takes the beets one after another, scrapes them lengthwise
to detach the earth and stones, takes off the neck all round,
and even a thin slice when this has not been already done,
by the operation described in the 1st Part, Chap. VIL.
Sec. II.

When a beet is too large to be applied conveniently to
the rasp, the workmen should cut it in two, or in quarters
according to its dimensions, this must always be done lon-
gitudinally.

The cleaning of the beets should alwa3^s take place in a
room near the rasps and presses, in order that these differ-
ent operations may follow conveniently and quickly. The
place should be, when possible, a building sufficiently
large to contain beets enough for the consumption of the
works for at least four or five days, and leave room enough
besides for the laborers to do their work easily. As fast

48

as the roots are cleansed, they should be thrown into bask-
ets about 18 inches high, and a foot wide, of a conical
shape with handles ; when several of these are filled they
are carried to the rasp : there they leave the full baskets
and take back the empty ones. Two women in France
who understand their business, can clean easily from 3 to
3 1-2 tons of roots in 12 hours work, and carry them to
the rasp. The wages of these women in some parts of
France do not exceed 12 or 15 cents each per day ; at
this rate the cleaning of a ton of beets would not cost over
10 cents. It of course reduces the weight of the beet —
the loss is estimated usually at from 6 to 7 per cent.

The operation of washing the roots is, (as we before
said) by no means generally requisite, and a careful
cleansing, as described above, is decidedly preferable, and
it is not always that water in sufficient quantity can be
conveniently obtained. When a little stream is at hand,
and they can be placed in baskets in the water and remain
till the earth is washed off by its motion ; such a peculiar
advantage should never be neglected ] but this is of rare
occurrence.

This washing is the more difficult too, as it must be ex-
ecuted in the winter and the water frequently may be fro-
zen. A general opinion once prevailed that the cleansing
with water was indispensable, and that the manufacture of
sugar could not be undertaken without a locality which
supplied an abundance of it ; but this supposed necessity
is groundless, for there are few spots where a sufficiency
of water may not be found for the inconsiderable wants of
a beet sugar manufactory.

44

CHAPTER II.

RASPING THE BEETS.

The first idea of the famous Achard when in search of
the best mode of extracting the sugar from beets, was to
boil them and reduce them to paste, but he soon found in-
superable difficulties in the way of this process. The
simple pressure without rasping has been repeatedly tri-
ed, and recently again by an improved press, and the rasp
is as yet the only effectual mode employed, and too much
care cannot be used in having this operation well done, as
on it depends, in a great measure, the more or less sugar
that is obtained. There is a great diversity in the con-
struction of this machine, but the cylindrical rasp of Mo-
lard appears to have the preference : the cylinder is of cast
iron, into which 120 saw plates are inserted ; as a descrip-
tion of this would probably be unintelligible without a re-
presentation of it by an engraving, I will not attempt it. A
man presses the beets enclosed in a box against the cir-
cumference of the cylinder, another workman on the oppo-
site side of the machine removes the pulp, and with the la
die with which he removes it fills bags as we shall more
particularly explain in the next chapter, from 80 to 100
lbs of beet are reduced to pulp in one minute.

The rasping requires, as well as every other operation
of this manufacture, great activity, and as much as pos-
sible the rasping more beets than are immediately wanted
must be avoided, as a prejudicial change takes place in the
pulp from a quarter to a half hour at most after it is pro-
duced ; a blackish color, which gradually increases is the
indication of this change. It is therefore prudent that no
more should be rasped than can be immediately pressed.

45

The rasp must be kept perfectly clean by repeated wash-
ings ; once a day at least, every part of the machine, and
all the tools appertaining to it, should be carefully cleans-
ed, because every portion of juice or pulp which is suffer-
ed to remain on them, would soon serve as a leaven to ex-
cite fermentation.

It is immaterial what power is used to drive the rasps;
animal, water, and steam power, and even wind is some-
times used in France.

CHAPTER IIL

EXTRACTION OF THE BEET JUICE,

A variety of machines and of power has been used, for
the pressing the pulp, as well as for rasping the roots ; of
late the Hydraulic press has superceded almost every oth-
er ; for this last operation at least, in large manufactories.
The pulp enclosed in bags is submitted to the action of this
machine, the bags are usually made of Russia duck, the
cloth, though required to be strong, must not be so close
that the juice cannot easily pass through it, or they will
otherwise burst, on the other hand it must be sufficiently
so to prevent the 'puly passing through the tissue.

This last defect, however, is less to be feared than the first,
so that the caution most to be attended to, is to avoid too
close a texture, and it must be recollected that it will be-
come closer when saturated with the juice. The size of
the bags may be varied, but generally speaking half
a yard wide, and one yard long is a convenient dimen-
sion ; they should not be more than 3-4ths filled. The
bags must be kept perfectly clean, they should be washed
every day in boiling water, with a small addition of the

46

sub-carbonate of soda. Wicker work'frames on which the
bags are to be piled must be provided, they should be made
strong- and proportioned to the size of the platform of the
press, that is of the same dimensions ; they serve to support
tJie piles of bags in their vertical position on the hand wag-
on, with which they are removed from the rasp to the press,
and are themselves kept in place when on the press by
stanchions fixed to the platform of the press at the lower
end, the other, sliding through a groove fixed to the frame
work. These wicker frames and bags are placed alter-
nately under the press, usually to the number of thirty of
each. As regards these frames, the caution of the cleanli-
ness is renewed, and in a word must be applied to every
branch of this manufactory.

A Reservoir is next to be provided, to receive the juice
from the press, to be subsequently conveyed to the defeca-
ting boiler, it must be supplied with pipes of communica-
tion with the press, and a pump to convey the juice it con-
tains to the defecating boiler, it should be placed on a low-
er level than the press, and receive the juice by an in-
clined plane. It must be made sub£>tantially of wood, and
lined with copper, having a concavity in the centre, into
which the bottom of the pump mast be inserted, so as to
empty it completely. The capacity must of course depend
on the extent of the manufactory.

MODE OF OPERATING WITH THE PRESS.

When the bags and wicker frames have been piled as
before described , alternately to the number of 30 or more
of each, on the platform and the stanchions placed, the
weight of the pulp alone causes a pretty plentiful flow of
juice : if the press used is a screiv press, a workman takes
hold of the lever and turns it, then a second man assists

47

and then a third, when they have exerted their united
strength on the lever the job is done, and after allowing the
bags to drain, whilst they are filling others the press is
unscrewed, the bags removed, the pulp cakes disposed of,
the bags cleansed, and the operation first described is con-
tinued till the whole quantity of pulp prepared is dispos.
ed of

CHAPTER IV.

DEFECATION OF THE JUICE.

The juice of the beet as it comes from^ the press carries
with it all the soluble parts of the root. It contains in
this state not only sugar, and ivater, but other component
parts, which cannot be separated by evaporation alone,
they must be precipitated by chemical agents ; many and
expensive experiments were made in search for these, which
I shall not here attempt to explain. The present process
is as follows, suppose a boiler containing 400 galls, of
juice, add before lighting the fire, 8 lbs. sulphuric acid at
66^ 1 part acid, 3 parts water, diluted, mix quickly and
thoroughly with the juice, then take 9lbs. of quick lime
weighed before it is slaked, then slake with warm water
to the consistency of milk, throw this also into the juice
and stir the whole completely, the fire is now to be kindled
under the boiler, and its contents raised to the temperature
of 190 Fahrenheit, then animal carbon that has been em-
ployed in clarification is added and well mixed, and a portion
of diluted ox blood, stirred in carefully, the fire is withdrawn,
the juice allowed to settle and is drawn ofl^ clear, through a
cock placed near the bottom of the boiler. It is important
to observe that the juice when the sulphuric acid is added

48

must 7iot be warm. This process has failed in the hands
of some imitators of M. Crespel, from a mistake on this
point. M. Dubrunfaut acknowledges that he himself com-
mitted it.

CHAPTER V.

CONCENTRATION OF THE JUICE.

For this purpose one or more boilers are necessary, with
which the evaporation is begun and finished, in these the
juice from the defecating boiler is received clear ; then a
slow fire is kept up in the beginning, and some albuginous
matter (white of eggs, or blood) added, if it should seem to be
required. After this a man must attend closely to the
boiler, and manage the fire. When froth appears it will
be his duty, to throw a small piece of butter or other grease
(which he should have near him) into the vessel, which
will immediately cause it to subside, he should also have a
ladle to stir it when required. When the juice has reach-
ed the proper point, that is to say 26^ of Baumes's areome-
ter when boiling, that is 30" when cold, it is time to proceed
to the operation of clarifying.

CLARIFYING.

The object of this, is to separate the syrup concentrated to
30° or near it, from the extraneous matter which it holds in
suspension, and moreover to deprive it by clarifying agents
©f all coloring matter, and other foreign substances which
were in the juice, or have formed there whilst under the
preceding operation, all which matter is injurious to the
sugar. Clarification may be divided into two distinct
branches, the one chemical, having for its object by clarify-
ing agents, such as animal carbon, albumine &c. to purify

49

the sirup; the other mechanical, having for its object to
separate from the same, the carbon and other solid bodies
agglomerated by the albumine.

The first is managed with a boiler, only because the ac-
tion of the chemical agents employed require to be aided
by heat.

01 all the means hitherto devised for clarification none
has been found so simple and so effective as that offered by
the use of animal carbon, and albuginous or caseous mat-
ter.

*We will here suppose that the object in view is to clarify
the portion of sirup supplied by the defecation of 100 gal-
lens of juice, that is 16 1-2 gallons of sirup concentrated to
26° boiling and 30° cold, (it follows that for any other quan-
tity is is only required to follow the same proportion) to do
this we must proceed to weigh 8 pounds of animal carbon
and throw it into the boiler, the sirup when boiling should
be well stirred with the ladle, then with the skimmer, the
black agglomerated matter which rises to the surface should
be broken up and mixed again with the liquid ; when it is
apparent that the carbon is sufficiently separated and mix-
ed with the sirup, it may be left to boil for a few minutes.
The sirup now assumes a turbid and murky appearance ;
whilst this operation is proceeding a quart of ox blood, or
the white of 4 eggs should be beat up and diluted with wa-
ter, or otherwise two quarts of skimmed milk. This mixture
must now be thrown into the boiler, taking care to mix the
whole well together. The ebullition w^ill of course have
been stopped by this addition, and it is proper till it begins

* The process we are about to describe is varied by different man-
ufacturers, by some the acid is omitted altogether and other agents
substituted.

5

50

again to boil, that it should be constantly stirred to prevent
the precipitation of the ingredients, the ebullition must be
kept up for a few minutes and the sirup is then prepared
for filtration.

FILTRATION.

This is an exceedingly simple operation, a flannel cloth
fixed to a frame is all that is required.

Sirup at the density of 30° cold, as it comes from the fil-
terer is not sufficiently concentrated to crystalize, it is there-
fore necessary to submit it to another boiling to evaporate
the superabundant water it still contains, and so to pro-
duce the required crystalization.

This operation is only a continuation of the concentrating
process and also its completion ; the same boiler which is
suitable for the first part of this process is the one now
again required, the fire must be carefully attended to, the
sirup skimmed when required, and if it rises in foam, must
be stopped as before by a piece of grease : when the proof
shows 90 1-2 to 91 of Reaumor, 236° Fahrenheit which
point it may reach, if the sirup is very good, it is time to
stop and empty the boiler ; it would be more prudent to do so
at 89 1-2, the sugar would purify more easily and as the
molasses must necessarily be reboiled, this supports the op-
eration all the better for being a little richer in sugar.

The 16 1-2 gallons with which we began our experiment
will now be reduced to 10 1-2 gallons. In this state it may
be turned into a vessel to cool gradually, where it may stay
for 10 or 12 hours when it will fall to the temperature of
170° or 180° of Fahre?iheii., and then may be put into the pots
for crystalization, these usually contain 6 to 8 gallons, in turn-
ing it into these, masses of the crystals will be found already
at the bottom and sides of the vessel, if the sirup is good, some

51

attention is necessary in this operation that the sirup should
not be left to get too cold before it is turned into the pots, as
this would in some degree impede the crystalization, these
should be kept in a close room and at a steady temperature ;
the pots are of a conical form with a hole in the bottom which
is stopped with a cork or clay, 36 or 40 hours after the sirup
has remained in them, and when the temperature is reduced
to 77° Fahrenheit or thereabout,the cork is removed and the
point of the cone placed over a vessel into which the mo-
lasses (which begins immediately to run) is received, in
about J5 days, in a temperature of from 60 to 65° Fahren-
heit, they have furnished above 2-3 of their molasses, in
this degree of heat the ivhole of the molasses will not sep-
arate from the sugar, the pots are therefore removed to
another room where the temperature is kept at from 120 to-
140° Fahrenheit, there they are again placed over the re-
cipients, but before doing this a rod is thrust through the
hole in the point of the cone to break the incrustation of
sugar within, and facilitate the draining of the molasses ;
after remaining here fifteen days the sugar m.ust be com-
pletely freed from the molasses, and must now be taken out ;
for this purpose the cone is placed on its base shook against
the platform on which it stands, and in an hour or so, the
sugar is detached in the form of the cone, the point of this is,
impregnated with molasses and is to be rem.oved, it makes
an inferior sort of brown sugar, the rest of the product will
be generally fine light colored sugar, which is found to
produce a larger proportion of refined sugar to the weight
than any made from the cane, and is therefore much pre-
fered by refiners ; the sugar made at the beginning of the
season is easier made, and better than that made later.

The molasses collected in the process of crystalization,
is reboiled, and subjected to the same process as the sirup,

52

and a certain portion of sugar is the result ; the residuum
is used for many purposes, and is especially useful for cat-
tie.

CHAPTER VI.

USE OP THE BEET PULP FOR FEEDING CATTLE.

It has been long since known, that the beet is an excel-
lent food for cattle, and consequently wherever agriculture
is properly understood, this precious root is cultivated ; it
improves the soil, occupies it but a short time, and furnish-
es them abundant nutriment. The manufacture of sugar
from this root, besides its other great advantages, offers
this additional one, that it requires but a portion of its nu-
trative matter, and furnishes for 3 or 4 winter months, a
moist food, equally valuable for the purpose of fattening
cattle, or for milch cows, which are apt on dry food to lose
their milk partly or entirely.

An ox will eat daily from 60 to 70lbs. of the pulp ; and
a sheep from 10 to 12lbs. to this it is well to add for the ox
when intended for the butcher ; from 2 to 3lbs. of oil cake
the residuum of oil mills, this addition renders the pulp
more nutritive.

Estimating the amount of the juice from the beet at 70
per cent., 30 per cent, will remain in the form of pulp ;
so that a manufactory working up daily 36 tons of roots,
would supply 21,600lbs. of pulp in the same time, more
than sufficient to feed 300 head of cattle, or 2000 sheep.
Hogs are also exceedingly fond of the pulp, and fatten well
on it. The time to which the manufacturing season is

limited, 4 months, or 120 days is amply sufficient to fatten
cattle, and it not unfrequently happens when fed on the
pulp cake, that at the end of three months they are fit for
market ; a factory might either buy lean stock to fatten, or
(which is perhaps better) sell the pulp to farmers or graz-
iers, for the same purpose This product sells in France
for 3 dollars the 2200 lbs, and a celebrated manuflicturer of
Arras declares that it was worth to him in stall feeding
cattle 4 dollars 75 cents, the (1000 kilograms) 2200 lbs, as
shown by a very exact account of an experiment he made
to satisfy himself on this important point; but taking its
value at three dollars for 2200 lbs, of pulp it will return to
the manufacturer nearly 1-4 of the cost of the beets, valued
at 3 dollars 50 cents, besides leaving a handsome profit to
the farmer or grazier who may employ it. The pulp can
be easily preserved moist for 3 to 4 months, and by drying
it, a much longer time, every kind of animal give it a pre-
ference over almost any other food.

The manufacture of the beet sugar may be undertaken
on almost any scale, but not with equal advantage, the re-
sult of a careful estimate of the comparitive profits of large
and small factories, and of the manufactory carried on
with, or without intermission, by which is understood dur-
ing the day only, or otherwise continued night and day, is
as follows.

I That the Factories worked night and day are more
profitable, other things equal, than those worked only dur-
ing the day.

2. That in all cases those on the largest scale are dways
the most lucrative.

3. That the sugar made by a small factory working by
day alone, should not cost the maker more than from 5 to 6
cents per lb, and that one four times as large, and continu-

5*

ed night and day, could make it for a fraction less than 5
cents.

4. That if we consider in the accounts which have
furnished the above result, all the advantages resulting
from the sugar manufacture are not embraced, such for in-
stance, as the fattening cattle, distillation, the improvement
of lands &c. it is fair to conclude that the price above men-
tioned (a fraction less than 5 cents,) is not the lowest cost at
which it can be made, and this too it 7nust he particularly
remarked upon an estimate of only 4 1-2 lbs, of brown su-
gar to the 100 lbs, of beets, whilst 5, 6 and even 7 per cent,
have of late been obtained !

5. That on the basis of only 4 1-2 per cent, the indigen-
ous sugar manufactories of France can now support a com-
petition with the sugar of her colonies, and that when this
art has reached the extension to which it is rapidly ap-
proaching, and undergone the improvements of which it
is susceptible, the beet sugar will be made as cheap as that
from the cane in the East Indies, that is for about 2 cents
and a half or three cents per pound. ^

To conclude, no doubt can possibly remain on a thorough
and candid investigation of the subject, that the introduction
of the beet culture and its manufacture into sugar is destin-
ed to create a memorable epoch in the prosperity of our
Republic, not inferior probably, to the cotton culture, and
having over that some preeminent advantages, therefore, to
consider it only, as a means of replacing a foreign product,
by one of our own growth would be to take a very narrow
and inadequate view of the subject.

Since the above Notice was prepared for the press a work on
the same subject, and drawn partly from the same sources, has ap-
peared in Boston,! hesitated in consequence whether I should give
publicity to mine, but seeing that there is some difference in the view
taken of the subject in this little tract, and that both may tend to pro-
mote the same desirable object, I have determined to persevere in
my original intention.

BOOKS
Publislied and for Sale, by J. H. Butler.

TODD'S INDEX RERUM, or INDEX OF SUBJECTS ; 3d ed. ;

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which it is intended, that it has received the approbation of all
who have examined it.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

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bor. I subsequently purchased the Cambridge Theological Com-
mon Place Book, but here I found myself embarrassed by a printed
Index of subjects designed only for professional reading. And it is
only in the flan of the Rev. Mr. Todd^s v:orh that I find an arrange-
ment exactly suited to the wants of the professional and literary man.""

" I fully concur in the favorable opinion expressed of the simple
arrangenient and utility of the Index Rerum."

GEORGE BANCROFT.

THE STUDENT'S MANUAL; 5th ed., designed, by specific
directions, to aid in forming and strengthening the intellectual
and moral character and habits of the Student. By John Todd,
Pastorof the Edwards Church, Northampton.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

Extract of a letter from Professor Stuart, to the Author.

" I thank you very cordially for your Student's Manual. I have
not found time yet to read it through; but I have read a number of
chapters, and highly approve of both the design and execution. It
cannot fail to do good. It will attract by its manly independence of
tone, as well as by the sparkling brilliancy of its thoughts. Macte
virtute ! Persevere in your own advice, and it cannot be that you
will not reap a bountiful harvest."

Pro7n the Knickerbocker.

" We do not often meet with a book which contains a greater
amount of sound counsel, and honest sense, than this. The views
of the author are in general most judicious ; the plans he lays out
and enforces, are good ; and action upon them could scarcely fail
to be productive of the best results. He has brought to his task a
mind whose experience has been large, and whose acquirements
and discrimination are every where apparent. Ends desirable to
be reached, are pointed out with remarkable perspicuity, and the
whole scope and intention of the volume cannot be too highly
praised."

From the Episcopal Recorder, Philadelphia.

'' This book is just what the title intimates. From our knowl-
edge of the author's mind, we should expect, what we find on exam-
ination a truly valuable work. It supplies a vacancy which no
other work has filled. It evinces a thorough acquaintance with
the dangers, propensities and excellencies of youthful students,
and a warm and discriminating affection for their welfare and hap-
piness. It discusses a great variety of subjects, and all with ease,
energy and practical sagacity. No student should fail to possess it,
and io use it as a manual. It abounds in the most important coun-
sels, in valuable and striking thoughts and illustrations. Everything
is spoken out fully, with a strong perception of its application, as
by one who knows others in knowing himself. We recommend it
to all young men who are concerned to cultivate their minds and
to be respectable and happy in life."

LECTURES TO CHILDREN; 10th ed., Familiarly illustrating
important Truth. By John Todd, Pastor of the Edwards Church,
Northampton.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

From the New York Evangelist.

" We take peculiar pleasure in recommending this little book to
our youthful readers as an important acquisition to the Juvenile lit-
erature of our country. The author has succeeded in adapting his
style to those for whom he writes. His illustrations are so simple,
that we think they cannot fail to bring his subjects down, or rather
to carry them itp to the comprehension of the youngest reader.
But few authors can write successfully for children. To do so re-
quires not merely science and a general acquaintance with the
laws of mind, but a practical knowledge of the peculiar opera-
tions of the infant intellect. This knowledge can be acquired
only from a personal intercourse with children, by one who loves
them. The style of this book is somewhat like that of Abbot's
works, yet abounding more in anecdotal illustration, and evident-
ly designed for the youngest readers. The author's points are
briefly and simply stated; his illustartions attractive, beautiful,
and satislactory."

From Abbotts Magazine.

" This book is, in our opinion, written in a right style, and on the
right principles for interesting and benefitting children. It must
take strong hold of them and do them good. The several lectures
are on the inost important subjects connected with the salvation of
the soul; they come directly to the point; they are full, perhaps
too full, of anecdote and illustration; the little reader, however,
cannot avoid understanding the bearing of all, and will with diffi-
culty shelter his conscience from its influence."

From Mrs. Sigournexj.

Extract from a letter.—'' In begging you to express my thanks to
for the excellent little volume of "Lectures to Children," I can-
not refrain from mentioning the great delight, and I hope edification,
with which my daughter, of five years old, peruses them. I have
kept them as a part of her Sunday reading, because they opened such
fine subjects of conversation for that sacred day. But this morning,
she comes to me, and says fervently, " Mother, if I get all my lessons
perfectly, may I read one of Mr. Todd's sweet sermons?" and by her

application to her simple tasks in Geography, Natural History, and
Writing, won the desired reward. Such a suffrage from a simple
hearted and intelligent little one, weighs more, in my opinion, than
the praise of practised critics."

From the Rev. Mr. Finneifs Lectures on Retivals,

" Perhaps most of you have seen a very lovely little book recently
published, entitled " Todd's Lectures to Children." It is very fine,
exquisitely fine, and happy in its illusirations of truth. But it has
one very serious fault. Many of its illustrations, I may say most of
them, are not calculated to make a correct impression respecting the
guilt of sinners, or to make them feel how much they have been to
blame. This is very unfortunate. If the writer had guarded his il-
lustrations on this point, so as to make them impress sinners with a
sense of their guilt, I do not see how a child could read through that
book and not be converted."

From the Boston Recorder.

" We cannot have a more favorable opportunity than in this
connection, to reccommend the " Lectures to Children," by John
Todd, Pastor of the Edwards Church in Northampton, as a spe-
cimen of the proper style of preaching to children. It is a book
which every pastor and every christian parent should study, in order
to learn how to adabt instruction on the most important christian
doctrines, to the capacities of a child."

i

VALUABLE BOOKS

J. H.

PUBLISHED AND FOR SALE BY

B U T I. E R ]¥oi<thaiiiptoii.

— ®®® —

HISTORY OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF U
EUROPE, AND ITS COLONIES, from the discovery k
of America, to the independencq^of the American Conti- ^
nent. From the German of A. H. L. Heeren, translated ^
by George Bancroft, 2 vols, octavo. ^

LECTURES ON DIET, REGIMEN AND EM- ^
PLOYMENT, by Prof. Hitchcock, 2d edit. 12 mo. ^

INDEX RERUM ; or Index of Subjects, intended as ^
a Manual, to aid the Student and the Professional Man, ii ^
preparing himself for usefulness— by Rev, John Todd— ^
third edition, quarto. ^

CATECHISM OF MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE; i

being principally a Compendium of the opinions of the M°
best writers on the subject. Designed for Physicians, At- U
torneys, Coroners, and Jurymen — by Stephen W. Will- 6
iams, M. D. IS mo. g

LECTURES TO CHILDREN, Familiarly illustrat- I
ing important truth, by Rev. John Todd, 16 mo. tenth §
edition. 5^

GLEANINGS FOR THE NURSERY, or a Collec- U
tion of Stories, selected and original, by one who has learn- ^
ed them all — many engravings, 16 mo. M.

POLYGLOTT BIBLE, Pocket edition, 32mo.9engra- |
vings on steel, in calf, morocco, and sheep binding, °gilt ^
and plain edges. ^

POLYGLOTT TESTAMENT, Pocket edition, 32 ^
mo. 4 engravings on steel, in calf, morocco, and sheep ^
binding, gilt and plain edges. h

THE STUDENT'S/MANUAL; designed by specific ^
directions to aid in forinihg and strengthening the intel- ^
lectual and moral chaj^acter and habits of the Student— by M
Rev. John Todd, 1^'mo. A complete guide to the Stu- ^
dent in all the staged of his education, from the time that ^
he commences study to old age. ^