CULTIVATION OF THE BEET. 73 



of the year ; it diffuses among the agricultural classes 

 good methods of culture, calling to their aid industrial 

 science and the arts of practical chemistry and me- 

 chanics. It multiplies the centres of labor. It pro- 

 motes, in consequence, those sound principles upon 

 which rest the organization of society and the security 

 of governments ; for the prosperity of a people is the 

 basis of public order. * * * 



" Wherever the beet is cultivated, the value of land 

 is enhanced, the wages of the workmen are increased, 

 and the general prosperity is promoted." 



In another place the same author puts the following 

 words in the mouth of the sugar industry : " Respect 

 me, for I improve the soil. I make land fertile, which, 

 without me, would be uncultivated. I give employ- 

 ment to laborers, who otherwise would be idle. I 

 solve one of the greatest problems of modern society. 

 I organize and elevate labor." 



The conclusions to which I have arrived are, 



That the skill, which is the result of the experience 

 of more than a century, and which has made France 

 independent of foreign countries for her supply of 

 sugar, is available for us to-day. 



That the manufacture of beet sugar can be success- 

 fully transplanted from France to the United States. 



That sugar can be produced in this country from 

 the beet nearly if not quite as cheaply as it can be 

 from the cane in Cuba, or any other country. 



That the protection of transportation alone is suf- 

 ficient to render it impossible for the sugar of tropical 

 4 



