1 16 SUGAR 



experience of the United States over again. In 1881 

 the first attempt was made. We are told in a recent 

 Report that the experiments then made could not prove 

 anything but a failure. In 1901, four factories were 

 started, but suffered from the usual initial drawbacks : 

 insufficient beet acreage and incompetent factory 

 management. The farmers were, of course, inexperi- 

 enced and discontented with the price paid for the 

 roots. The consequence was that one factory was 

 moved to the States ; another gave up the attempt ; 

 and the two remaining combined, in 1909, to form the 

 present " Dominion Sugar Company, Limited." The 

 two drawbacks were gradually overcome. The farmer 

 began to recognize the benefits to be derived from the 

 crop ; and it became " a known fact that, once inter- 

 ested in beet-raising, he very rarely discontinues." 

 The farmer appreciates the fact that it is a cash crop. 

 Prices have now been arranged on the basis of richness 

 of the roots and, in fourteen years, prices have risen 

 from $3-50 to $5-50 per ton. No farmer now receives 

 less than $5-50, which shows that he knows how to 

 produce rich roots. Twenty-three shillings a ton is a 

 good price to begin with. The Canadians have now 

 learned the details of the factory work, and can dis- 

 pense with incompetent imported " experts." It is 

 good to hear that the Dominion Company are now 

 completing the erection of a large beet-sugar factory 

 to do 1,500 tons of roots a day. " The plant is one of 

 the most complete in the world, equipped with the most 

 modern machinery and appliances that science has 

 devised." The Company has evidently learned its 

 lesson and is ready to "achieve success. It would be 

 well if some equally intelligent Company were to make 

 its long wished-for appearance in our rural districts. 



