170 CULTURE OF THE SUGAR BEET. 



In California, also, interest in the industry has again been awakened through the in- 

 strumentality of Mr. Th. Gennert, whose worthy enthusiasm led to the establishment 

 of tbe enterprise in Canada and in Maine. The work is to be renewed at the factory of 

 the former Alvarado Company, and Gennert's scheme for drying the beets for preserva- 

 tion and transportation, which was attended with such disastrous results at Chatsworth 

 and in Maine, is to be tried once more. It is understood that Mr. Gennert is now in- 

 terested in the Alvarado Company and expects to carry out his plan for drying the 

 beet-roots, and, thus diminishing the cost of transportation, increase the profits of 

 manufacture, in wbich we hope he may be successful. The culture of the beet has also 

 been undertaken in Santa Clara County, where it is proposed to supply deficient 

 moisture by irrigation, and to dry in open sunlight the roots, of which it is declared 

 two crops can be produced in one year. Without wishing to discourage the enter- 

 prise in any way, we may venture to express the hope that the promoters are acquainted 

 with the experience of the growers of the south of France and Italy, as described 

 by Gustave Heuz6 in his work "Lcs Plantes Fourrageres," page9, where he says: "The 

 beet succeeds well in the cold climates of Europe. It will grow in southern countries, 

 but it suffers there from heat or drought ; its root remains small, green, and contains 

 little sugar. An attempt was made to hasten its growth in Lombardy by frequent 

 irrigation during the summer, but irrigation was fatal to it, and growers were forced 

 to adopt other means to assure success." 



We would also call attention to the fact that in Algeria where the enterprise of pre- 

 paring beets for preservation and transportation by drying in open sunlight, the suc- 

 cess, if any was obtained, has not appeared worthy of record. 



Besides the arrangements that have been made for the production of sugar from the 

 beet at the different places mentioned active interest has been awakened elsewhere, 

 particularly at Baltimore, Md., Chester, Pa., and at various localities in New York, 

 but these movements have not yet assumed definite shape. 



