22 SUGAR BEET 



tivated mostly in British Colonies, and 

 was brought to Europe chiefly by the 

 British mercantile sailing fleet. There- 

 fore the prices increased enormously 

 when Napoleon issued the decree known 

 as the Continental Closure, with a view 

 to shutting the Continental markets to 

 all English goods. Prices of from 15 

 to 50 per cwt. were paid, and this was 

 naturally a great stimulus to the energy 

 of sugar manufacturers on the Continent. 

 This was the chief reason for the erection 

 of the first beet-sugar factory in France, 

 where Napoleon I took a keen personal 

 interest in the new industry. 



When, however, the Continental Clo- 

 sure came to an end, these exorbitant 

 prices decreased, the immediate result 

 being that the young beet-sugar industry 

 died, with the exception of a few struggling 

 factories. 



These difficulties, however, ultimately 

 turned to the benefit of the industry, 

 which became self-supporting as it was 

 conducted on more scientific lines, and 

 the few surviving up-to-date factories 



