BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY. 113 



These results plainly indicate the effect of the different fertil- 

 izers ; that fresh nitrogenous manures are injurious ; that wlien 

 well decomposed in the soil their effect is good ; and that potash 

 has a marked influence on the product of sugar. As we shall 

 show hereafter, potash also aids in the separation of the sugar in 

 manufacture. But of course these experiments do not show that 

 where potash is in plentiful supply in the soil, it is necessary to 

 apply more, but simply that its presence is very important. 

 Stable manure always contains considerable potash, and after a 

 year's decomposition the potash in particular is ready for assimi- 

 lation, and descended probably into the sub-soil, where it is most 

 beneficial. 



The beet sugar industry in this country is looking up. In 

 California it has attained great importance. The amount of sugar 

 manufactured at Sacramento alone exceeded 3,000,000 pounds in the 

 season of '15-'1d. Twelve thousand tons of beet roots have been 

 worked up at Sacramento, which yielded 13j per cent, of sugar. 

 There are several other factories in the State, but still there is not 

 enough to supply the home demand. In Maine a lively interest is 

 being awakened, and a company near Portland have sent a man to 

 the Centennial Exhibition, to Freeport, Illinois, and to California, 

 to study up the methods of operation, etc. The Governor, in his 

 last message to the Legislature, deemed it of so much importance 

 as to devote much space to the subject. In Southern Maine the 

 farmers will doubtless readily take hold of the enterprise, having 

 been engaged for several years furnishing immense quantities of 

 sweet corn, peas, berries, tomatoes, etc., to the numerous packing 

 establishments of that section. Rhode Island is stirring in the 

 matter, too, and men who mean business are carefully considering 

 the pros and cons. Repeated reports come from Canada of their 

 intentions. Of the possibilities of Canada in this line we shall 

 have something to say soon. The factory at Freeport, Illinois, is 

 reported in a prosperous condition. And doubtless the Centennial 

 Exhibition will do much toward showing up the possibilities of 

 the it!dustr3% as we understand there is or will be a fine showing 

 of the products, which must open the eyes of all interested parties. 



V — Prospects for Canada — Climate. 



In Professor Goessmann's series of investigations, he tested 

 several samples of beets from Canada, raised for this purpose, 

 with the following results : 

 8 



