BEETROOT SUGAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2179, 21 September 1920, Page 2

BEETROOT SUGAR.

THE trouble at the sugar works at Chelsea, and the consequent scarcity of sugar throughout the Dominion, lias again brought, up the question of the feasibility of growing sugar heel: in this country. The matter is under consideration by the people of Dunedin, and in connection with same Ihe Otago Daily Times says: —“It is understood that a proposition is on foot in Dunedin for the establishment of the beetroot sugar industry in Central Otago. The high price at which sugar is likely to remain for many years to come justifies the belief that there is a great opening for this industry in Otago. About half the world's commercial sugar crop

in normal times is derived from beet sugar. Largo quantities id: sugar licet are grown in the North of Uranee, (lermany, Belgium, and Holland, and also in some parts of the United States, ft is considered that the climatic conditions of Central Otago are ideal for beetroot growing—warm sun during the summer lime, and a cold, severe winter. The sugar beet is one of the crop of plants known as biennials, taking two years before it flowers or fruits. I| is propagated by seed, anil in ts lirst year produces above ground only leaves, which elaborate large quantities of food reserve, which is is stored up underground in the large fleshy root iit the form of sugar. Deep cultivation is essential in the production of satisfactory crops. The manufacture of beetroot into sugar is provided for by specially-design-ed .machinery, wliich pulps the roots, extracts the sugar, purifies (he. juice, and finally, after boiling, separates the sugar crystals from the treacle. Beet sugar manufacture ought to be a very profitable industry in Central Otago, for there is not only (he sugar itself, from which a. profit may be derived, but a.lso a very considerable value is attached to the by-products, one of which is that of alcohol for industrial purpose's, which is obtained by distillation from the beet sugar moia -ses. The Otago I'jxpnn mm League is carrying out investigations into the whole proposition, and it is anticipated that at an early dale (he matter may be put before the public as a commercial proposition, affording a very remunerative return upon capital investment.''