Curl. — On the Growth of Sugar-Beet in New ZealancL 147 



But large as these profits are when calculated upon the data furnished by 

 factories working in France and Germany, they would be exceeded here, as 

 they are based upon an average of less sugar in the beet than would be 

 found here, for we might certainly calculate upon 11^ per cent, of sugar in 

 our beetroots, whereas the preceding figures are calculated for only 10 per 

 cent, as a total, and 8 per cent, as sugar extracted and crystallized. But 

 even if matters were much worse, and did not show a profit of 60 per 

 cent., through mismanagement and a less percentage of sugar and the 

 produce being sold at a lower price, even then the profits must be very 

 large, and must altogether depend upon the management of the factory. 



But, whatever may be thought of the exact amount of the profits that 

 would accrue, there can be no doubt that large profits would be made, as is 

 proved by the rapid way in which this industry has spread on the continent 

 of Europe, and the enormous wealth that has been developed thereby, not 

 only amongst manufacturers, but among the farmers and others who are 

 engaged and interested in the beet industry. 



In 1850, in France, an area equal to 87,000 British acres was under 

 beet culture, and fifteen years afterwards this area under beet culture 

 increased to over 300,000, and it has been increasing at a very rapid rate 

 ever since. In fact, the production of beetroot sugar has doubled in France 

 every ten years. 



In Germany, they are more than doubling their production of sugar 

 every ten years. In 1850, in Germany, they made 53,000 tons of beet 

 sugar, and in 1865 they made 187,000 tons. . In 1867 France made 220,000 

 tons of beet sugar, and has as rapidly increased ever since. In Austria, 

 they have over 200 beet sugar manufactories, and are always increasing the 

 number. The increase of this industry is also equally rapid in Holland, 

 Belgium, Sweden, Poland, and Eussia. In the year 1866, there were 

 produced in the whole world 2,320,000 tons of sugar from the beet, the 

 maple, the cane, the palm, and the date ; out of this quantity there was 

 more than one-fourth manufactured from the beetroot, namely 638,500 

 tons, of which France produced 216,000, Germany 190,000, Austria 80,000, 

 Eussia 80,000, Belgium 40,000, Poland and Sweden together 25,000, and 

 Holland 7,500. 



In the year ending 1866, in France, the returns from the beet harvest in 

 that country were as follows, reduced into English money : — 



Beet sugar £6,250,000 



Spirit distilled from beet 1,350,000 



Potash from refuse of beet . . . . . . 500,000 



Exhausted pulp sold at factories . . . . 1,100,000 



Total £9,200,000 



