80 
Beet-root Distillery. 
already stated that the kind preferred bv the sugar-manufacturers 
is the white Silesian, with green or pink necks : and it would 
appear that these varieties are also the best for the still. If the 
exclusive object of the distiller were the production of spirits, no 
doubt but the varietv of beet-root containing the largest quantitv 
of saccharine matter would be much better suited to the purpose 
of his industry than any other. But we must not lose sight of 
the consideration that the object of this paper is not to treat of 
beet-root distillery as an abstract manufacture, but as a branch of 
agricultural economv ; and therefore we have two things to con- 
sider : one that is paramount, and constitutes the principal aim 
of the operation — I mean, the production of food for the live 
stock of the farm : and the other, which mav be regarded as a 
mere accessory — the production of alcohol. It is then a matter of 
importance to consider whether the cultivation of the varietv of 
beet called yellow globe, although evidently not so rich in sac- 
charine matter, is not, nevertheless, more advantageous to the 
distilling farmer, on account of its greater yield in bulk per 
acre. 
Let us, therefore, compare the average yield of an acre of 
su?ar-beet, and its value in alcohol and food for cattle, with that 
of an acre of yellow globes. 
In France the average crop of Silesian beet-root does not ex- 
ceed 12 tons per acre. Taking the average yield of alcohol at 
4 64 per cent, and the decrease in weight effected in the pulp by 
maceration at 24 per cent., one acre would produce about 129 
gallons of spirits and about 9 tons of pulp. 
We have seen that the cost of working a ton of roots amounts 
to 6^. bd. ; the 12 tons will then cost 3/. 175.. and the gallon of 
unrectified spirit a fraction more than ~d. 
On the other hand, the average yield of yellow globes is fully 
19 tons per acre, yielding only 3 43 per cent, of alcohol and 76 
per cent, of pulp : this would give in pure alcohol 143 gallons, 
and 14^^ tons of pulp : the cost of working 19 tons at 65. bd. 
would come to 6/. I5. lit/., which would bring the cost of dis- 
tilling one gallon of spirit to Wd. 
The balance-sheet will stand thus for the two crops : — 
Sugar Beet-roUs per Acre, 
£. s. d. 
129 gallons of spirits at Is 6 9 0 
i> tons 2 cvrt. of pulp at 10* 4 10 0 
l-'t 19 0 
Less cost of manipnlation 3 17 0 
Balance of profit 
£7 2 0 
