BEET-ROOT SUGAR. VISIT OF A FRENCH EXPERT.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 249, 24 March 1888, Page 4

BEET-ROOT SUGAR. VISIT OF A FRENCH EXPERT.

Wellington, March 21. An important step in advance has been taken towards putting the question of beetroot sugar manufacture in New Zealand to a practical test. M. Cohh, who represents the Fives Lisle Company, the largest company in France or, perhaps, in the world for sugar milling machinery, is now on a visit to the colony. He has been induced to come by reports on the suitability of New Zealand for the cultivation of sugar beet by Mr Pond, Colonial Analyst, of Auckland, Mr W. A. Graham, of Waikato, Dr. Curl, of Eangitikei, and also by Count de JouHrey Dabbans, the French Consul here. M. Cohn has been himself a sugar maker in Russia. Ho has established many sugar mills in Queensland, Java, Japan and elsewhere, and so far as ho has been able to study the,capabilities of this country he is satisfied that the beet sugar industry would give profitable results in New Zealand. M, Cohn has set out on a trip to Manawatu, Rangitikei und other parts of the North Island ior the purpose of seeing beets grown during the present season and of getting some of these analysed, with a view to industrial results, and the selection of spots most suitable for tho orection of mills, and also of analysing the water of rivers and reporting on their suitability for sugar milling purposes. Alluding to his visit, the "Press " says :— " It is satisfactory to find that New Zealand is attracting so much attention from continental firms in European countries. The cultivation of sugar beet is considered of more importance for its use in dairy farming and general agriculture, especially for rotation of crops, than for the production of sugar-making material. In Noimandy, for instance, sugar beets are largely employed in feeding cows for butter-making, and Normanby butter is celebrated for its excellent quality, one brand of it — Le Beyrre de l&iguy — being of world-wide fame. Mr Cohn's movements, therefore, are of very considerable interest to the farming community in X"\ev/ Zealand, for they may lead to great changes in their methods of agriculture and cattle-farming."