372 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



GALLONS MOLASSES. 



Eighteen linndred find sixty-three. 

 Eighteen hundred and sixtj'-four... 

 Eighteen hundred and sixty-five... 



Total 



POUNDS SUGAR. 



Eighteen hundred and sixty-three 

 Eigliteen hundred and sixty-four.. 

 Eighteen hundred and sixty-five... 



Total, 



Cost of molasses. 



Cost of SUgi 



263,670 

 334,620 

 469.950 



1.068.240 



30,141,513 

 27,420,106 



29,808,891 



87,370,510 



$.534,120 00 

 13.505.576 50 



Total cost of both 814,039,696 50 



For molasses and su^-ar imported, it Avill be seen that California has 

 paid, during the last three years, the sum of fourteen million thirty- 

 nine thousand six hundred and ninety-six dollars, or at the rate of four 

 million six hundred and seventj'-nine thousand eight hundred and ninety- 

 nine dollars per. year. We have reckoned the molasses at fifty cents a 

 gallon, and the sugar at fifteen cents a pound, which is believed to be 

 about the average paid for the dilt'erent qualities at San Francisco. 



This has been done in the face of the fact which has been demonstrated 

 in Fi-ance and in some of the Eastern States, that sugar and molasses can 

 be produced from the ichite heet of Silcski, or common sugar beet, at a 

 much less expense than they can be produced from the Louisiana cane, 

 in Louisiana. In France the beet produces about ten tons to the acre 

 on an average, while in this State the average product per aci'C, as estab- 

 lished by actual experiment, is about Miy tons. The reason of this 

 great difference in product in favor of California is very plain, when it is 

 stated that in France, on account of climate, the beet can only occupy 

 about seven months to mature in, while here it will grow the whole 

 year, and may at all seasons be allowed to grow at least ten months; 

 and the growth here, on account of the peculiarly favorable climate, is 

 more rapid than in France. A single beet has been known to attain in 

 one season, near Sacramento, the remarkable weight of one hundred 

 pounds. Again, it is a well established fact that beets, or any other 

 vegetable, secretes more saccharine matter when grown in a dry cli- 

 mate, Avithout rain, than when grown in a Avet climate, subject to fre- 

 quent showers of rain. In the latter case, much more water and less 

 sugar enters into the composition of all vegetables. Thus it has been 

 ascertained in France that if beets are allowed to remain in the ground 

 and grow after the fall rains set in, water increases and sugar decreases, 

 thus rendering the crop less valuable. This fact can be detected by the 

 taste. 



In France, the average j-ield of sugar per acre is about one thousand 

 pounds a j-ear, while here the yield maybe made to. reach five times 



