158 



Manufacture of Sugar from Beet- Root. 



Analysis shows that the per centage ( • 89) of mineral matters in 

 the root is very small, and even of this certain portions remain in 

 the pulp or cake, and in the clarifying pan ; therefore the pro- 

 portion of saline matter obtained from the molasses must be very 

 small in comparison with the bulk of roots used. It is, conse- 

 quently, customary, after evaporating the residue of the distilla- 

 tion to dryness, to leave it in that condition until a sufficient 

 quantity has been obtained to economise the extraction and sepa- 

 ration of the salts. At Waghausel, where about 30,000 tons are 

 annually consumed, they obtain about 200 tons of salts in the 

 foregoing proportions ; at Valenciennes (Serret, Hamoir, and Co.) 

 the consumption and return are about double that amount. 



Section V. 



" Comparison of j)roJit per acre from production of sugar or corn at 

 present prices^ 



We find some difficulty in determining the manner in which this 

 section should be considered, as " the comparison of profit per acre 

 from the production of sugar or corn " is in fact a comparison 

 between the profits made by a manufacturer and those by a farmer.* 



* We have some valuable information bearing upon this point, in the Report of 

 the " Commission speciale sur les Cultures de MM. Crespel a Arras," published 

 in the " Annales de I'Agrieulture " for 1850. Messrs. Crespel are not only manu- 

 facturers of beet-root sugar upon a large scale, but also cultivate extensive farms, 

 for the purpose of growing their own supply, occupying in all 1519 hectares, 

 (about 3750 acres), and manufacturing 2,500,000 kilos, (about 2500 tons) of sugar. 



It appears that they farm chiefly upon a 5 years' rotation, and that their land is 

 thus divided, (1849)— 



Hectares 310 always in mangold-wurzel, owing to peculiar conditions. 

 17 permanent grass. 



in wheat, 

 in oats, 

 in rye. 



in mangold-wurzel. 



in leguminous plants, clover, sainfoin, &c. 

 in potatoes. 



1519 



The average produce of the mangold-wurzel is 35,000 kilos, per hectare = to 

 about 14 tons the acre, and the average selling price is 18s. the 1000 kilos. = to 

 15s. per ton. 



The wheat (English variety) yields 45 hectolitres per hectare = to about 50 

 bushels the acre. 



The common wheat (ble du pays) only yields 25 hectolitres per hectare = to 

 nearly 28 bushels the acre. 



The average of entire crop (1849) was 32 hectol., or abouf35 bushels to the acre. 



The straw averaged 6000 kilos, per hectare = 21 tons to the acre. 



Taking these averages, and assuming the value of the wheat to be 5s. per bushel, 

 and the straw to be 20s. per ton, the money return for the two crops would be 

 about the same, the advantage to the grower being that of having the tops of the 

 mangold-wurzel left behind, either for feeding purposes or as a manure. The 

 Eeport however states that these returns, both in grain and in straw, are about 

 one-third higher than the ordinary returns of the district. 



> ? 



368 



5 ) 



101 



5 3 



55 



3 3 



484 



3 3 



176 



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8 



