193 



than tlie other process : — The roots having been washed, are sliced 

 lengthways, strung on packthread, and hung up to dry. The ob- 

 ject of this is to let the watery juice evaporate, and the sweet 

 juice, being concentrated, is taken up by macerating tlie dry slices 

 in water. It is managed so that all the juice shall be extracted by 

 a very small quantity of water, which saves much of the trouble 

 of evaporation. Professor Lampadius obtained from 110 lbs. of 

 roots 4 ibs. of well-grained white powder-sugar, and the residuum 

 afforded 7 pints of spirit. Achard says that about a ton of roots 

 produced 100 lbs. of raw sugar, which gave 55 lbs. of refined sugar, 

 and 15 lbs. of treacle. This result is not very different from that 

 of Chaptal. 6,000 tons of beet root it is said will produce 400 

 tons of sugar and 100 tons of molasses. 



Beet root sugar in the raw state contains an essential oil, the 

 taste and smell of which are disagreeable. Thus the treacle of beet 

 root cannot be used in a direct way, whereas the treacle of cane 

 sugar is of an agreeable flavor, for the essential oil which it con- 

 tains is aromatic, and has some resemblance in taste to vanilla. 

 But beet root sugar, when it is completely refined, differs in no 

 sensible degree from refined cane sugar. In appearance it is quite 

 equal to cane sugar, and the process of refining it is more easy 

 than for the latter. Samples made in Belgium were exhibited at 

 a late meeting of the Dublin Society, It was of the finest ap- 

 pearance, of stroDg sweetening quality, and in color resembling 

 the species of sugar known as crushed lump. The most singular 

 part of the matter is, that it was manufactured in the space of 

 forty-five minutes — the entire time occupied from the taking of the 

 root out of the ground and putting it into the machine, to the 

 production of the perfect article. It was said that it could be 

 produced for 3d. per lb. An acre of ground is calculated to yield 

 50 tons of Silesian beet, which, in France and Belgium, give three 

 tons of sugar, worth about £50 ; the refuse being applied in 

 those countries to feeding cattle. But from the superior fitness 

 of the Irish soil, as shown by experience to be the case, it is con- 

 fidently affirmed by persons competent to form an opinion, that 8 

 per cent, of sugar could be obtained there on the raw bulk. 



The following figures are given as illustrative of the expense of 

 the cultivation of one acre of beet-root in Ireland : — 



Two ploughings and harrowing 

 Expense of manure and carting 

 Hoeing and seed 

 Drilling and sowing 

 Eent 



£1 1 0 



5 0 0 



0 6 0 



0 5 0 



2 0 0 



£8 12 0 



An average produce of 20 tons, at £15 per ton, would leave a 

 profit of £6 8s. per acre, leaving the land in a state fit for the re- 

 ception, at little expense, of a crop of wheat, barley, or oats for 

 the next year, and of hay for the year ensuing ; a consideration of 



