THE BEET INDUSTRY 113 



tons, from Germany 491,176 tons, and from Austria 

 131,019 tons. From that year Germany kept up a 

 steady export varying between 400,000 and 700,000 

 tons per annum. The French exports were very fluc- 

 tuating, as low as 3,000 and as high as 300,000 tons. 

 Austria was also very fluctuating, as high as 180,000 and 

 as low as 31,000 tons. The exports of refined sugar 

 from Austria are very high and very steady, because 

 the profit from the duty or the bonus was so arranged 

 as to give the turn to the production and exportation of 

 refined rather than raw sugar. 



This rough sketch of the progress of the European 

 beetroot sugar industry gives rise to many reflections. 

 It has been artificially stimulated, as we see, to a vast 

 extent, and it has now lost its artificial stimulus. The 

 Brussels Convention of 1903 has put a stop to it. During 

 its progress it won the race against cane sugar and became 

 the dominant factor in the sugar markets of the world. 

 What will happen now ? Will it hold its own or will 

 cane sugar win the next heat ? x 



To answer this question it is necessary to study the 

 cost of production in the rival industries. The yield of 

 beetroot sugar, per acre, is only one-and-a-half to two 

 tons at the best. From the cane, in very favoured 

 countries, as we have seen, the yield per acre can reach 

 four to five tons. Then, as to skill and excellence in 

 manufacture, the beetroot factories were at one time 

 far in advance of the cane. The tropical industry has 

 now learned the lesson from its European competitors, 

 has improved its methods and goes on doing so very 

 rapidly. But the European industry has its market 

 almost at its doors, while the tropical sugar must 

 sometimes travel long voyages to reach the consumer. 



As to actual figures, it is sufficient to say here that 



1 See Appendix III. 



