196 SUOAK. 



Cane Sugar. Beet-root. Totals. 



Tons. Tons. Tons. 



1848 60,500 26,000 86,500 



1849 54,000 34,000 88,000 



1851 45,000 43,000 88,000 



Thus we find that in the peiiod of four years cane sugar has lost 15,000 tons' 

 and it will lose still more when new manufactories shall have been established. 

 The consumption of Russia is estimated at 85,000 tons, of which 35,000 is beet- 

 root, and what proves that the latter every day gains ground is, that the orders 

 to the Havana are constantly decreasing, and prices are getting lower. In 1848 

 Austria consumed 40,000 tons, of which 8,000 were beet-root. Last year (1851,) 

 she produced 15,000 tons. The production of the continent rising to 200,000 

 tons, and the consumption remaining nearly stationary, it is evident that Bra- 

 zilian and Cuban sugars will encumber the English market, independently of 

 the refined sugar of Java, which Holland sends to Great Britain. When the 

 continental system was established by the decrees of Milan and Berlin, the Em- 

 peror Napoleon asked the savans to point out the means of replacing the pro- 

 ductions which he proscribed : it is to the active and useful impulse which his 

 genius impressed on all minds, that France and Europe owe this fresh manufac- 

 ture a creation the more valuable as its fortunate development required the co- 

 operation of chemical science and agricultural improvement." 



The quantity of sugar extracted from beet-root in the commence- 

 ment of the process, amounted to only 2 per cent. ; but it was art rr- 

 wards made to yield 5 per cent., and it was then supposed possible 

 to extract 6 per cent. On this calculation the fiscal regulations 

 for the protection of colonial sugars in Prance were founded ; but 

 recent experiments have been made, by means of which as much 

 as ten and a half per cent, of sugar has been obtained. The fol- 

 lowing notice of the improved process is given in a number of the 

 Const itutionnel : 



" It appears that a great improvement is likely to be made in the manufacture 

 of beet-root sugar. Those who are acquainted with the process of this manufac- 

 ture, are aware that M. de Dombasle has the last six years exclusively devoted 

 himself to bring to perfection the process of maceration, of which he is the in- 

 ventor. Adopting recent improvements, this process is materially altered, and 

 ha3 now arrived at such a point of perfection that it could scarcely be exceeded. 

 The Society for the Encouragement of National Industry recently appointed com- 

 mittees to examine the effect produced in the manufactory of lloville. They 

 witnessed the entire progress of the work, every part of which was subjected to 

 minute investigation. Similar experiments have been made in the presence of 

 many distinguished manufacturers. We have not the least intention to prejudge 

 the decision which may be made on this subject by the society we have alluded 

 to ; but we believe we are able to mention the principal results that have regu- 

 larly attended the works of the manufactory this year. The produce in coarse 

 sugar has been more than eight per cent, of the first quality, and more than two 

 per cent, of the second quality, in all nearly ten and a half per cent, of the weight 

 of beet-root used ; and the quality of these sugars has been considered by all the 

 manufacturers superior to anything of the kind that has hitherto been made, and 

 admits of its being converted into loaf-sugar of the first quality. The progress 

 of these operations is as simple as possible, and the expenses attending the manu- 

 facture are considerably less than that of the process hitherto adopted." 



The cultivation of the beet in France appears likely to prove 

 still more advantageous, in consequence of the discovery that the 

 molasses drawn from the root may be, after serving for the maim- 



