724 Journal of Agriciilt urc. Victoria. (15 Dec. 1919. 



of beets, yielding 504 tons of white granulated sugar, as well as a quan- 

 tity of raw sugar and molasses. The sugar found a ready market, 

 but the season ended with a heavy loss, and growers generally seem not 

 to have secured profitable yields at the low rates then prevailing for 

 beets. The factory operated for a second season, and treated the 

 product of 1,500 acres, or some 6,000 tons of beets, for 307 tons of sugar. 

 Neither field nor factory results were satisfactory, and the accumulated 

 losses of the two seasons were isuch as to compel the Company to suspend 

 operations, while the growers were far from successful with their crops. 

 At the same time, there were definite indications that a well-managed 

 factory operating to capacity should produce a high grade of sugar, 

 and run profitably; and in the field some of the crops proved that pro- 

 fitable yields of high-grade beets could be grown under right conditions. 



The failure seems chiefly to have been due to insufficient rainfall, 

 accentuated by inexperience and faulty cultivation, and inefficient 

 business and technical control in the factory, resulting in costly running 

 and a low extraction of sugar. Excepting the climatic influences, the 

 other reasons for difficulties during the initial stages of this new industry 

 were to be expected, and a longer experience should gradually have 

 eliminated them. The adverse influence of a light and erratic rainfall 

 could certainly have been modified by better methods of cultivation, but 

 climatic conditions were undoubtedly responsible in the main for 

 failure. At this stage, the plant and buildings had cost the company, 

 approximately, £75,000, and as the Government had advanced the com- 

 pany £63,000, it took possession, and retained the mill inactive, but in 

 good order, for a term of ten years, during which time a number of 

 experimental beet crops were grown in the district. Owing to a revival 

 of interest by the Government and district farmers. Dr. Walter Maxwell 

 was, in 1909, invited to report on the industry and its possibilities. He 

 recommended that the factory be re-opened as an experimental concern, 

 and be supported by the Government until such time as beet growing 

 should develop sufficiently to enable the mill to be placed on a commer- 

 cial and profitable basis. An American manager was appointed, and 

 the mill re-opened in 1910, under the control of the Department of Agri- 

 culture, with the following results : — 



1910-11. 



458 acres were harvested for 5,970 tons of clean beet, producing 482 tons of 

 sugar, and a quantity of molasses and beet pulp, very suitable for stock feed. 

 The rainfall was exceptionally good, and the ])rice paid for beets was Ifis. per 

 ton. With the heavy expense of re-opening, and the small turnover, the factory 

 was naturally run at a loss. 



1911-12. 



7.")2 acres were liarvesti'd foi- ;i.'.)7.") Un\> of licet, iinxlucinu :A\) tons of sugar. 

 The Boi-sdale Closer Settlement Estate Ijccaiiie associated witli the industry by 

 agreement that each block should provide 10 acres of sugar beet per annum. 

 Owing to the unavoidable late preparation, and a dry-growing period, the crops 

 were disappointing, and the factory was operated at a loss. 



The price jiaid for beets was £1 per ton. plus a bonus of 5s. 4d. granted to 

 offset the low yields, and because of the higli sugar content of the beets. 



1912-13. 



900 acres were harvested for (5,208 tons of beet, producing 648 tons of sugar. 

 The season was dry until harvest time, and rain came at a period when it reduced 

 the sugar content without materially increasing the tonnage. The ])rice ])aid 

 for beets was £1 per ton. 



