872 



Transactions. — Botany. 



So far from this, I feel convinced that with due attention, proper cultiva- 

 tion, and suitable manuring, a higher percentage will be obtained than from 

 those which the past season's growth has furuished us with ; and should a 

 factory be established for the conversion of beet-sugar, I believe the true 

 economy of procedure would be in the purchase of roots at a fixed rate per 

 ton, with an additional schedule price for every degree of sugar above a 

 minimum, a practice which works beneficially amongst some of the German 

 factories ; especially would this be the case in the colonies, where the 

 higher price of labour would naturally lead us to seek for the maximum 

 of sugar from a minimum of root. It is not within the scope of this paper 

 to dilate upon the value to this district should such an industry find a home 

 amongst us, but the benefits would be so great and varied, while the returns 

 which I have now brought before you give so large a promise of success, that 

 I hope the early future may find such an establishment situated where it 

 would be most profitably worked — in the centre of the Waikato district — 

 where soil, temperature, and the absence of sea air proclaim its fitness for 

 the growth of the beet ; and to show the results of a factory in full working 

 order, I will conclude by reading the result of eight years' working of the 

 North German Sugar Company, as extracted from their books by Mr. G. S. 

 Graham : — 



Process. 



Year. 



Quantity of 

 Beetroot. 



Percentage of 

 Sugar. 



Eate of 

 Dividend. 



Beetroot. Quantity 

 manipulated per 

 diem. 



.2 ' 

 "p <i5 

 Si s 

 %^ f 



^* 

 w 



a 

 _o 

 'Eo 



pq ) 



1870-71 

 1871-72 

 1872-73 



1873-74 

 1874-75 

 1875-76 

 1876-77 

 1877-78 



Cwts. 

 208,575 



128,680 



274,595 



328,035 



194,370 



356,410 



303,825 



357,630 



9-13 

 9-29 

 9-00 

 9-00 



10-37 

 9-08 

 9-54 



11-00 



32o/° 

 30 „ 

 24 „ 

 24 „ 

 30 „ 

 80 „ 

 24 „ 

 Not ascertained 



Cwts. 

 1,400 



1,400 



2,000 



2,000 



2,500 



2,700 



2,700 



2,800 



