180 WHAT I KNOW OF FAEMING. 



north latitude, than any variety of the Turnip with 

 which I am acquainted, and destined, in the good 

 time coming, when we shall have at least doubled the 

 average depth of our soil, to very extensive cultiva- 

 tion among us. I am not regarding either of these 

 roots with reference to its use as human food, since 

 our farmers generally understand that use at least 

 as well as I do ; nor will I here consider at length 

 the use of the Beet in the production 6f Sugar. I 

 value that use highly, believing that millions' of the 

 poorer classes throughout Europe have been enabled 

 to enjoy Sugar through its manufacture from the 

 Beet who would rarely or never have tasted that 

 luxury in the absence of this manufacture. The 

 people of Europe thus made familiar with Sugar can 

 hardly be fewer than 100,000,000; and the number is 

 annually increasing. The cost of Sugar to these is 

 considerably less in'money, while immeasurably less in 

 labor, than it would or could have been had the 

 tropical Cane been 'still regarded as the only plant 

 available for the production of Sugar. 



But the West Indies, wherein the Cane flourishes 

 luxuriantly and renews itself perennially, lie at our 

 doors. They look to us for most of their daily bread, 

 and for many other necessaries of life ; while several, 

 if not all of them, are manifestly destined, in the 

 natural progress of events, to invoke the protection 

 of our flag. I do not, therefore, feel confident that 

 Beet Sugar now promises to become an important 

 staple destined to take a high rank among the pro- 



