60 THE SUGAR BEET. 



where it is shown that in Louisiana and elsewhere 

 many difficulties are yet to be overcome. As to the 

 possibihty of beet sugar being able to compete with 

 the cane suoar of Cuba there can be no doubt, as the 

 yield to the acre in France is frequently 5000 lbs., 

 which is greatly in excess of any results yet obtained 

 on any ordinary sugar-cane plantation. It costs but 

 little more to exti'act the saccharine principles in one 

 case than in the other, and there still remains fi'om the 

 beet sugar manufacture a pulp having a considerable 

 value. This diminishes the first cost in an important 

 degree. Admitting that the ex23ense of manufacture 

 in both cases is the same, there would still remain the 

 cost of transportation and the duty. Then again it has 

 been argued that the beet could only be grown on a 

 given soil and in a given climate, but these ideas have 

 long since changed, and one can i-eadily be convinced 

 of their absurdity' on considering the various soils and 

 the number of European countries where the beet is 

 grown. Then, again, it has been feared that even if a 

 success, it would do much harm to the country, as the 

 space devoted to other crops would be lessened. The 

 same argument was advanced when the potato was 

 first brought to the Northern States ; but, on the con- 

 trary, the number of acres will be increased. 



The following table^ of agricultural products gives 



^ To have the exact number of hectares it will be sufficient to multiply by 

 1000 the figures in the above table. The approximation given is sufficient for 

 practical purposes. 



