LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



Washington, D. C, November 1, 1879. 



Sir : In compliance with your instructions, embodied with others in 

 the letter accompanying my commission as agent and representative 

 of the Department of Agriculture at the late Paris Exposition of 1878, 

 directing me to make a study of and report upon the culture of the 

 sugar beet and the extraction of sugar therefrom, I have the honor to 

 submit the following report : 



I have prefaced this report with a discussion of the history of the 

 industry, embracing Margraff 's discovery of the presence of cane sugar 

 in the root, Achard's enterprising efforts at its culture and the extrac- 

 tion of sugar from it in an industrial way, and the substantial encourage- 

 ment afforded by Napoleon I, which gave to the industry such an impetus 

 that, in spite of the reverses and unfavorable conditions to which it was 

 subject, it ultimately became an established fact; for thoughthis ground 

 has been gone over by former writers upon the subject in the publica- 

 tions of the Department of Agriculture, it has not been completely 

 covered, doubtless from the fact that they did not have access to the 

 official publications and State papers bearing upon the subject which 

 in this connection it has been my duty and pleasure to consult. 



But, while I attach importance to the value of this branch of the sub- 

 ject, my object shall be in this work more particularly to describe the 

 present condition of the industry in France, the improvements that have 

 been effected in the methods of culture and modes of extracting the 

 sugar, and the influences which may modify or destroy the possibilities 

 of successful work. It is only from the experience gained in older 

 countries, after long years of varied success and adversity that we 

 must estimate the probabilities of the successful and profitable manipu- 

 lation of this valuable crop in the United States. 



The points herein considered may be summed up as follows : 



1. History. 



2. Statistics. 



3. Meteorology : Conditions in the beet-growing districts of Europe, 

 and comparison of these conditions with those of different sections of 

 the United States ; limits of conditions which govern the extension of 

 the culture. 



4. Varieties of beets grown in France ; selection of seed and methods 

 employed. 



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