86 EXTRACTS FROM DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR [Sept. 1894. 



REPORTS. 



factories. The average yield of sugar in the beet is from 14 to 

 15 per cent., and in order to secure a good yield the roots 

 destined for culture are selected solely with regard to the per- 

 centage of their yield of sugar. Therefore the excellence of the 

 root in regard to yield and the production of the seed is a 

 matter of the first importance. The plant most in demand is 

 the little Wanzleben. 



The factories consume 200 tons to 1,000 tons of beetroot daily, 

 according to size or working capabilities. 



The process is as follows : — The roots cut into strips are 

 edulcorated with warm water, and the juice thus obtained is 

 clarified by means of lime. The residue left is then subjected to 

 a process by which all moisture is extracted by means of presses 

 and utilised as provender, which has been found very serviceable. 

 A second and third purification with carbonic and sulphurous 

 acid follows, and the syrup and crystallisation operations by 

 evaporation and boiling give the final production of the manu- 

 factured article, which is separated by centrifugal machinery from 

 the syrup. The deposit left from this process is the molasses 

 which is so much used in the manufacture of spirit. The number 

 of factories in Germany in 1891 was 406 equipped with 4,717 

 steam engines of 68,691 horse-power, using up 10,623,319 tons 

 of beets, and yielding 24,273,784 cwts. of sugar, and 4,815,922 

 cwts. of molasses. 



[Foreign Office Report, Annual Series, No. 1432.] 



Light Railways in Belgium. 



The following information respecting the Belgian light 

 railways has been extracted from a report by Mr. Leech, 

 3rd Secretary of Her Majesty's Legation at Brussels, explaining 

 the organisation of the Agricultural Department of Belgium, 

 which was published, together with several reports of a similar 

 nature for other countries, as a Parliamentary paper in J une last. 



In 1885 the Belgian Government, with a view to alleviate the 

 agricultural and commercial crisis through which the country 

 was passing, addressed circulars to the provincial governors, 

 inviting their consideration to the proposed creation of Vicinal 

 railways Chemins de Fer Vicinaux "), and expressed their 

 intention of doing all in their power to further the establishment 

 of these new means of communication. 



It was set forth that although roads had been greatly im- 

 proved of late years, no steps had been taken to facilitate the 

 mode of transport upon them. 



It was therefore proposed to lay down these railways along 

 existing roads, so that they might be constructed at small 

 expense, and economically administered, to afibrd the people a 



