142 TruTisactions. — MisceUaneo us . 



timber could be had for cutting and carting to the workshed, so that beyond 

 the small sum required for the purchase of tools, etc., the sole outlay would 

 be the cost of carriage to the merchant's warehouse, which, from the nor- 

 thern settlements, in any case must be much less than American freight 

 rates, while the import duty of 15 per cent, ad valorem would be altogether 

 in favour of the settler, although this of itself may be a disadvantage to the 

 community. 



Art. XII. — On the Growth of Sugar-Beet in New Zealand, 

 By S. M. Curl, M.D., F.L.S. 

 [Read before the Auckland Institute, 25th October, 1880.] * 

 It is some years ago since I wrote in the public papers and otherwise to 

 advocate the introduction of the sugar-beet industry in this colony, being 

 thoroughly satisfied by the experiments I made of the growth of various 

 beets from different countries under test cultiu'e, and the large percentage 

 of sugar by analysis, that the establishment of sugar-beet manufactures 

 would greatly enrich this country. Had my plans been adopted and 

 carried out, this colony would have been rich and prosperous, instead of 

 being deeply in debt as it now is, and in place of the farmer working his 

 land, as he now does, at a loss, by the introduction of the sugar-beet 

 industry quite a different state of things would quickly arise, and the 

 farmers might every year make a profit of from ten to fourteen pounds per 

 acre for every acre they had in beet culture, and still leave six pounds for 

 working and manuring each acre, thus, at the same time, increasing their 

 capital, paying good interest upon that invested, employing more labour 

 than they can now afford to do, and meanwhile the capital invested in the 

 manufacture of sugar and spirit Avould be profitably introduced, and more 

 labourers would be employed. 



That these are facts and not fancies the history of the beet industry in 

 all countries proves beyond a doubt, and having formerly had the advantage 

 of seeing the beet culture and manufacture in France, in Eussia, in 

 Germany, in Austria, and other countries, and seeing the profit it brought 

 to the farmers growing it, and to the manufacturers who obtained from the 

 roots sugar, si^irit, and the waste products used for cattle feeding, &c., — 



* [This paper was first read before the WeUington Philosophical Society on the 22nd 

 November, 1879, and its publication was postponed by direction of the Board, as the author 

 might wish to acquaint himself with the voluminous Parliamentary papers on the subject 

 (App. Journ. H. of R. 1876, H.-2 and H.-2a ; 1877, I.-4), especially as these papers include 

 analyses of New Zealand grown beets, showing much less favourable results. — Ed.] 



