BEET CULTURE IN THE WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1344, 10 February 1881, Page 2

BEET CULTURE IN THE WAIKATO.

Four or five months ago Mr William Graham, of Tamahere, distributed a quantity of seed received by him from a correspondent in Hamburg, with the view of testing the soil and climate of Waikato in the growth of beet-root for making sugar. He has had further comnnmication with his correspondent on the «übjcct, who is much impressed with tljB adaptability of the district for that purpose, the ulterior object being to establish a manufactory in Waikato for production of sugar. He has shown us the com muni, cation, from which we gather that the project io well thought of, and that in the event of the experiments made with the heed being successful, there is every probability th.it an undertaking of the kind vill be ebtablished in our midst. The point upon which information is required is, ah to the quality of the beet grown from the seed. With the view Of settling that point, arrangements have been made with Mr J. A. Pond, analytical chemist, Queen-street, Auckland, to have the various samples tested. Mr Graham now desires us to state that ho will be obliged to those parties to whom the seed w.is given, if they will be kind enough to forward samples of the products for analytical purposes. With the view of making the test as complete as possible it is desired that a sample root be forwarded weekly for examination. There were three samples of seed diatributed for the purpose of comparing as to the particular seed most suitable for this place. It is requested that samples should embrace roots from each dpscription of seed. By forwarding them either to Mr. Graham, the office of this paper, the National Hotel, Cambridge, or Mr Pond, Aucklani, they will in due course be analysed and the result made known to the grower. We are also desired to say that growers are requested to send in particulars as to the nature of the soil &c, in which the various samples were grown. The roots mo«t suitable for analytical purpose are those weighing from 0113 to three pounds. When taken out of the ground the leaves should be stripped off at once, and the sterns shut up in a dark place until an opportunity occurs for despatching them as above. Three faamples of the plant, grown from seed furnished to Mr Lewis O'Neill, have already been analysed, the results being as follow :—

The above is considered to be very good, although not thought to to be a fair * average of the returns which will yet b& got. Mr O'Neill's samples were grown from seed of inferior quality compared with that distributed subsequently, and from what has been ascertained, no particular care was taken in the mode of cultivation. Alluding to the above Mr Pond writes: — " These results far exceeded my anticipations, and augur well for the future."

i Two blind men fell into a quarry at Liverpool and -were killed. GrAS AND ITS SUCCESSOR.— Now that there is a probability that the electric will be the reigning light, the comparitive safety of these two luminaries is beginning to be a subjeot of discussion. Insurance companies have alwaya given a preference to the use of gas, from the 'stationary character of its burners j but this advantage is greatly modified by the circumstance that the match is largely used in lighting, which in its incendiary aptitude is also as notorious as kerosene oil. The electric light requires no suoh application. It has the inherent property of luminosity, and dispenses its rays with ineandecent brilliancy, and bums in. vacum, whence there can be no danger. When these lights shall be introduced into general use, and becomes as well adapted for private use as for streets and public buildings of large area the mere turning ofja tap will convert darkness into light ; and the Fire Insurance Companies will soon learn to appreciate it with the veneration exhibited for the safetylamp, from whose a&enoy no lost to them is likely to occur. Gas htta had its day —a glorious day in its triumph over oil aud candles — but, like human nature, it has to yield to that mutability common to tho^ progress of events an.4 qnperioi? eolfglitejune^t,

S.implc. No. ) No. 2 No. 3 Weight. 21bs. 2ozs. 3grs. lib. 24ozs. 12.\ozs. Result 10-95£ 10-174 1355€