lo Aug., igii.] Cultivation of Si/j^ar J'><Lt. 511 



Growing for the Maffra Factory : Financial Results. 



To those who are within a reasonable distance of the iSlaffra Factory, 

 sav up to 80 or 90 miles, we say " Grow beet for the factory; it will 

 pay )'ou handsomely." ^i ]X'r ton is to be. paid for topped beets de- 

 livered at the factory, and from jo to 20 tons can be grown, according 

 to the character of the soil and the attention given to the cultivation. 

 The Government also undertakes to pay all railway freight over 3s. per 

 ton, so that the growing of beet this year in those districts along the 

 Gippsland line where potatoes proved such a disastrous crop last year 

 should be very profitable. Land that has been under potatoes is likely 

 to l.>e verv suitable for beet, and much of it will not need subsoiling. 



The following are a few of the results from growers around ISlaffra 

 and further afield who planted beet la.st season : — 



Mr. B. C. Martin, Tinamba, grew slightly under 3 acres of beet, ancJ 

 paid for every detail at contract rates, allowing 305. per acre for rent 

 of land. His total expenses were ;;^33 4s. 3d., whilst his receipts 

 amounted to ^48, so that he made slightly over jQ^ per acre, without 

 the value of the pulp, which he received free at the factory. 



Mr. T. Vance netted jQiA 16s. 7d. from one acre of beets after 

 paving 6s. for seed. As Mr. Vance carried cut all his own work he is 

 more than pleased and satisfied with the result. 



Mr. C. Rowley secured 40 toiis of beet from 2 acres at Xewry. After 

 paying for seed, thinning, carthig. and rent, he came out with a profit 

 of ^10 per acre. 



Mr. G. C. Johns, of Sale-road, grew 3 acres of beet, and made over 

 /^'5 per acre nett. A en)]) of wheat he grew only ga\e him ^4 per acre. 



Messrs. French Jiros., the largest indi\idual growers in the Maffra 

 district, put in about 18 acres under beet. They paid contract rates for 

 thinning, hoeing, and ,top[)ing. and were enabled to put ^100 in the 

 bank, while their cereal crops are still awaiting sale. 



There are many other ca.ses, where returns eijual to or exceeding these 

 have been gained. 



( 'ONCLUSION. 



W'liat sugar beet growing has done for Europe and the United States 

 it can al.so do for A'ictoria. Since the introduction of beet into Germany 

 the productivity of the farms in that country has mare than trebled, 

 'i'his is due to the fact that sugar beet is a payable crop which can onl\ 

 \>i' successfuUv grown by applying to its culture the common-sense rules 

 that gfjvern any profitable industry. 



Xietoria pavs out nearly a million pounds for her sugar. Is there 

 anv rea.son whv a large ])art of. if n(,t all. llie sugar cc-nsumed in this State 

 should not be made in Victoria, and this large sum diverted into tlie 

 j)0(k<'ts of our farmers? 



Mr. Dyer, the Ami-rican Htci l-,.\[)(rt. now at the Maffra Factory, 

 sums up the growing of L)eet as follows: "■ I'hf beet is one of the best 

 <Tops to give i>r()fitable returns in [jroportion to the care and attention 

 Ixi-.^towed ujjon it. X'arious im])orlvint points are : Secure a good stand by 

 Using plenty of seed and properl) prejjaring the soil ; properly thin when 

 the young lieets have reached die pr(j[ier si/e. avoid thinning out too far 

 apart in the rows; maintain a good state of cultivation. The secret of 

 raising Ix.'ets cheaplv and of gi;ol \i«ld .ind <iu.dity is: A'e<7> a clean 



