33 



defecating, evaporating, finishing pans, and filters, with fur- 

 nace, registers, dampers, and chambers, which enable the 

 whole operation, from the strained neutralised juice to the re- 

 fined syrup, (in which state it is the best possible for granula- 

 tion), to be carried out in one continuous operation, with a 

 capacity of from 8 to 10 gallons per hour, and with a con- 

 sumption of fuel exceedingly small." 



It must be a source of satisfaction to learn that Dr. Cover- 

 dale, the Principal of the Queen's Asylum, has determined to 

 initiate the cultivation of the sugar beet, and its subsequent 

 manufacture, at the New Town Farm ; and no better employ- 

 ment could be given to the baud of juvenile workers placed 

 under that gentleman's control. 



The same enlightened views which led to the circulation in 

 the community of an abridgment of Baruchson's instructive 

 pamphlet, \iii\, doubtless, influence the Grovernment to give 

 encouragement to the proposed experiment, and sanction the 

 purchase of the requisite machinery, to be obtained at such 

 moderate cost, for the different processes of the manufacture. 



A few figures here may serve to show the national impor- 

 tance of this useful industry. It appears, then, from NowelVs 

 Statistics of Tasmania for 1868, that the annual consumption 

 of sugar in this community averages about 701bs. per head ot 

 the entire population. This makes a total of say 7,000,0001bs., 

 or 3500 tons yearly, and exceeds in value ^100,000 sterling. 

 Hence it is apparent that there is ample scope for the most 

 extensive operations, and that no apprehension need be enter- 

 tained of over-producing this article of prime necessity. 



Adverting now to the specific question of cost, which was 

 put to me in reference to the adoption of this as a domestic 

 manufacture upon a limited scale, I have not been able to pro- 

 cure data to show this with sufficient precision ; and I appre- 

 hend that, after all, it could only be arrived at approximately, 

 as it would evidently vary in almost every family, according 

 to the degree of skill and experience brought to bear in the 

 culture of the root, and its subsequent manipulation. 



Comparison with the home manufacture of bread and beer, 

 as well as with the products of the dairy, best illustrates, I 

 think, the question — " Will it pay ?" Many people, we 

 know, bake their own bread, and brew their own beer, as well 

 as make their own butter and cheese, irrespective altogether 

 of the mere question of cost, but simply because it suits them 

 to do so, either from living at an inconvenient distance from 

 the usual distributors of these necessaries of life, or from the 

 possession of the requisite means and appliances, or for other 

 reasons. So, with regard to sugar, it might fall in with family 

 arrangements, in some instances, to apply any available 



