144 SUGAR 



destruction. A good deal of injury might have been 

 avoided injury to consumer as well as producer if 

 their advice had been listened to at the outset of the 

 disease. 



As a last word, we ask again, which is to win the race 

 between cane and beet ? Or are they to run a dead heat 

 and divide the stakes ? At one time the beetroot 

 industry, as we have seen, was rather sad, while cane 

 sugar was very cheerful and " going strong." Those 

 connected with the latter declare that their adversary 

 will never hurt them now, and can only live with the 

 help of a surtax. This, at present, is not borne out 

 by the facts ; the beetroot industry shows no signs of 

 reducing its production. But it is quite prepared to 

 face the fact that, all artificial stimulus having been 

 withdrawn, it will not continue to make its accus- 

 tomed giant strides. M. Franois Sachs, the eminent 

 Belgian expert and statistician, said, with regard to the 

 rapid increase in the world's consumption, and therefore 

 production : " It is true that Europe, and certainly 

 Belgium, will take but a feeble part in this increase in 

 the production of the future." 



Let us end with the hearty wish that both industries 

 may flourish, each in its own sphere ; after their splendid 

 efforts they both deserve it. 



