14 THE CHINESE SUGAR-CANE. 



He also speaks of the comparatively small yield, 

 and the entire inadequacy of the maple-sugar to 

 meet this demand, and closes by recommending 

 the culture of the sugar-beet. He cites the 

 success of the French in this branch of sugar 

 manufacture as an example for us, and thinks 

 the agricultural department of the Patent Office 

 ought to take some steps to bring about '* a con- 

 summation so devoutly to be wished," — a de- 

 crease in the price of sugar and molasses. He 

 further says : '' The annual yield of beet-root 

 sugar in France averaged for a number of years 

 upwards of 150,000,000 pounds. This immense 

 production, at thirteen cents a pound, the price 

 we now pay for a decent article of Havana 

 sugar, at retail, gives the handsome sum of 

 about 120,000,000 added yearly to French 

 industry." 



It may not be out of place here to say that the 

 sugar-beet culture has been attempted, and thus 

 far failed ; and I very much doubt if it can be 

 revived and be made profitable to compete with 

 the new Chinese sugar-cane, which is now being 

 brought forward to supply, if possible, the defi- 

 ciency in the sugar and syrup crop of our coun- 

 try. I have no doubt, if half the time and money 

 are spent in perfecting the manufacture of sugar 



