54 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



the beet is indeed now almost exclusively consumed in Russia, Ger- 

 many, Austria, France, Sweden and Belgium; and these countries 

 not only produce beet-sugar, but also export it largely to the neigh- 

 boring States. The white Sicilian Beet is mainly used for salads, 

 spinage and soups. The thick-ribbed variety serves like asparagus 

 or sea-kale, dressed like rhubarb. Cereal soil, particularly such as is 

 fit for barley, is generally adapted also for the culture of beets. The 

 rearing of the root and the manufacture of the sugar can be studied 

 from manifold works; one has been compiled by Mr. N. Levy, of 

 Melbourne. A deeply-stirred, drained soil, rich in lime, brings the 

 saccharine variety of beet to the greatest perfection. The Imperial 

 beet yields from 12 to 20 per cent, sugar. The Castlenauderry, the 

 Magdeburg, the Siberian White-rib and the Vilmorin-Beet are other 

 varieties rich in sugar. About 5 Ibs. of seed are required for an acre. 

 In rotation of crops the beet takes its place best between barley and 

 oats. In Middle Europe the yield averages 14 tons of sugar-beets to 

 the acre, and as many hundredweight of raw sugar. The mercantile 

 value of the root, at distilleries, has ranged from 20s. to 30s. per ton. 

 In climates not subject to frost the beet-harvest can be extended over 

 a far greater portion of the year than in Middle Europe. The extrac- 

 tion of the sap is effected generally by hydraulic pressure; the juice 

 is purified with lime and animal charcoal; excess of lime is removed 

 by carbonic acid, and the purified and decolorized juice is evaporated 

 in vacuum pans, with a view to prevent the extensive conversion of 

 the crystallizable sugar into treacle. The production of beet-sugar 

 needs far less labor than that of cane-sugar, and the harvest is 

 obtained in so short a time as eight months. The beet has shown 

 itself subject neither to alarming diseases nor to extensive attacks 

 of insects. It is mostly grown in extra-tropical zones, while the 

 sugar-cane is confined to tropical and sub-tropical latitudes. Beet- 

 culture, by directly or indirectly restoring the refuse, ameliorates the 

 soil to such an extent, that in some parts of Europe land so utilized 

 has risen to fourfold its former value. The beet furthermore affords 

 one of the most fattening stable-fodders; and thus again an ample 

 supply of manure. In the beet-districts of Middle Europe about one- 

 sixth of the arable land is devoted to beets, yet the produce of cereals 

 has not been reduced, while the rearing of fattened cattle has increased. 

 Notwithstanding a heavy tax on the beetsugar-factories in Europe, 

 the industry has proved prosperous, and assumes greater and greater 

 dimensions. In 1865 the sugar-consumption of Europe amounted to 

 1,583,825 tons, one-third of which had been locally supplied by the 

 beet, from over one thousand factories. Treacle obtained from beet 

 is distilled for alcohol. For establishing remunerative factories on a 

 large and paying scale, it has been suggested, that farmers' companies 

 might be formed. For ascertaining the percentage of sugar in the 

 beet, saccharometers are used. In Germany some scientific periodicals 

 are exclusively devoted to the fostering of this industry. In 1875 

 the total production of beet-sugar amounted to 1,318,000 tons 

 (Boucheraux) 



