Manufacture of Sugar fi^om Beet- Root. 



159 



However, as the whole question relates more to technical than to 

 pure agriculture, we will endeavour to meet what appears to us to be 

 the intention of the proposers, by giving the respective cost and 

 advantages of the two crops. The question of the cost of the manu- 

 facture of the sugar is so differently stated by different authorities, 

 and so difficult to be arrived at from the manufacturers themselves, 

 that in order to save error we only propose to give the various 

 products and their market values ; from which can be deducted 

 the expenses of manufacture according to the evidence selected. 



So far our information has led us to believe that, for the pro- 

 duction of a crop of beet for the j^urposes of sugar -making, it is 

 desirable that the land be of good quality and in good condition ; 

 but that it is not desirable that any manure should be applied 

 immediately preceding it. We know also that it is not generally 

 considered good farming to take a wheat crop from fresh manured 

 land, but rather to take a root or forage crop, and then the corn 

 the year after. It will therefore save trouble, and probably much 

 difference of opinion as to details, if we assume the soil for the 

 two crops to be of equal value and in equal condition : their culti- 

 vation would then stand thus : — 



Mangold-wurzel. 



£. s. d. 



Tillages. . . 1 19 0 

 Seed . . .030 

 Harvestinor . .060 



2 8 0 



Wheat, 



Tillages. 

 Seed . 

 Harvesting 



£. s. d. 



0 14 6 



0 10 0 



0 6 0 



1 10 



The average crop of sugar beet on the Continent is, in the best 

 districts, about 15 tons per acre.'"^ We might in this country 

 expect to grow rather more — say 20 tons to the acre, under 

 favourable circumstances ; and on land of that quality we might 

 expect to see 5 quarters of wheat grown. Therefore the return 

 of the two crops Vv^ould be, for — 



Mangold-icurzel. 



20 tons of roots, at 1 ^s. 

 3 tons of tops, at 10s. 



£. 



15 

 1 



16 10 0 



Wheat, 



5 qrs. of wheat, at 48s. 

 I5 ton of straw, at 25s. 



s. d. 



0 0 

 17 6 



13 17 



If the expenses are deducted from each, it will leave a nett 

 return of 14/. 2s. for the mangold-wurzel, and 121. 7s. for the 

 wheat crop. 



* M. Hamoir states that they cultivate maBgold-wurzel extensively, and that 

 they average a crop of from 40,000 to 50,000 kilos, the hectare == to 16 to 20 tons 

 the acre, according to the season ; and that they can purchase their supply at from 

 14s. to 15s. per ton. 



