no July, 191S.] Beet Sugar. 417 



After what I have seen, my conclusions regarding beet growing at 

 Maffra, and in Victoria generally, are as follows: — 



Beet Growing Operations. 



Considerably larger areas of beet must be sown in order to make 

 the industry a thorough success at Maffra, 



Our field work, as far as it goes, compares favorably with American 

 methods, but the economic importance of crop rotation and irrigation 

 cannot be too strongly emphasized. "While on principle opposed to 

 forcing anything on the grower against his will, I have come to the 

 conclusion that, in order to demonstrate the value of irrigation to this 

 and other industries, the Government should proceed with the Boisdale 

 irrigation scheme, permitting those settlers favorably disposed to use 

 the water, and allowing the balance a limited time to decide whether 

 they Avould accept or forego their water rights. Subsequently, the 

 unallotted water rights might be turned over to outside growers adjacent 

 to the settlement area. The comparatively small direct loss that might 

 be involved for a term would, I feel sure, be immensely outweighed by 

 the direct and indirect advantasres that would eventually accrue to 

 Central and East Gippsland. The rich States of California, Utah, 

 Colorado, and others in America, would be comparatively barren with- 

 out irrigation. The cane sugar-growers of the Hawaiian Islands spend 

 £15 10s. an acre for irrigation, and the very evident results in such 

 areas lead me to believe that our rich river flats would handsomely 

 respond to irrigation. 



Two beet harvesting implements likely to save much labour are to 

 be thoroughly tried in America next season ; but, as practical use will 

 probably suggest many improvements, it is well to await results.. 



The beet seed situation is so acute that America has buyers abroad 

 and growers at home giving the matter keen attention. Some of the 

 companies are now largely growing their own seed with success; and, if 

 we can secure a little high-grade standard seed from France each year, 

 we should endeavour to follow the American example. 



I was impressed with the utility of the small caterpillar oil tractors 

 in use on so many of the beet and general farming areas. 



Factory Operations. 



Considering our conditions, the Maft'ra Factory accomplished excellent 

 results last season, but the fact must be stated that the plant is largely 

 out-of-date, incomplete, and at some points, very weak. 



If the quantity of beet warranted it, a good construction firm should 

 be asked to remodel the factory; but, as suflicient raw material is not 

 yet assured, I will simply state some of the important improvements 

 that appear to be necessary, and should be quietly aimed at : — 



Larger beet bins, with dirt, weed, and rock catchers. 

 A clean beet automatic weighing machine. 

 An auxiliary beet slicer — French type for preference. 

 Cossette bearing chains in diffusion battery cells. 

 9307.— 2 



