26 THE SUGAR BEET. 



1786. Abbe Commerel published a book calling the 

 farmer's attention to the advantages gained by the cul- 

 tivation of the roots for feeding purposes. Long after 

 this Archard, another chemist, born in France but 

 residing in Prussia, republished and augmented con- 

 siderably the researches of Margaif. The ideas of the 

 latter, from having been too theoretical, had not until 

 then found any practical application. Archard was 

 encouraged by Frederick the Great, and was able, after 

 many years of continued perseverance, to give a solu- 

 tion to this most difficult problem.^ These experiments 

 were brought to an end on account of the death of his 

 great protector, Avho had been both a lover of science 

 and of his country. 



1796. They were again resumed, and a beet sugar 

 factory was established near Steinau on the Oder. 



In the treatise published by Archard he made known 

 the methods adopted, and also spoke of the possibility 

 of feeding the pulp to cattle, the advantages of the 

 manures resulting, etc. ; in other words, what has at 

 the present day been realized. Here we must not only 

 admire a man of science who was able to predict events 

 years in advance, but also one of honor, as $30,000 

 had been offered him by a society in England^ to make 

 the world believe that his attempts had not been a 

 success. This proposal was fortunately rejected, and 

 two years later a new offer was made of $120,000, 



' See reports written by Napoleon. 

 * See Annales de Chemie, 1799. 



