BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2090, 28 November 1885, Page 3

BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.

10 lUX KDITOH. SiK,— lf you will .Ulow me a short space in your columns I would bethel to say a word or two regarding the beet sugar industry. I h.ueieud the interesting aiticle on that subject which appetred in Tuesday's Tunes and 1 can fully coirob.or.tte the stetcincnts therein cont.uncd, at least in so far as they pertain to California, for I have visited the factory and witnessed the whole in full opeiation. A few months ago, at the solicitations of lome of the leading men of Waikato, I wrote to a friond in California requesting him to obtain all the information he could on the subject, but on his applying for such information the manager refused to grant the fayour. I suppose they think they ha\e a ''big thing" on, and want to keep to keep it to themselves. Now, if the beet sugar payn in California, and that fact/ is perfectly well established, I cannot see why it should not be pre-eminently successful hero. In the tint place, it 11 apparent that tho m>il and climate are spe cially adapted to the growth of roots, and I may add vegetables of all kinds. Labour u cheaper here than tn California, the oidmary wagei of c< tnrnon farm labourm there ranging from !?2"> to SttO per month, ■with board included. It seems to me, since there are men hero who nro willing to invest capital in this enterprise with a \iew to aiding and developing the reßourses> of the Wftiknto district, it is as little as wo farmers can do to supply them w ith the material. Where beets aic giown for tins pmpo-o an acie will yield from £'10 to £20 woith, according to the skill and care in handling them. In the event of a factoiy proving .iboitive theie can certainly be no loss to the farmer, for tho beets can be most advantageously consumed on the farm. I am convinced that there is no crop that will give laiger letinns than this aa a feed for stock. There is nothing better for store hogs than a field of beets, and they do the haivpstmg with their own machine. It is equally good for sheep, and I need not enlarge on its excellence as a food for dairy cowh. So you see, Mr Editor, there cvn bo no possible risk in devoting a few acres to the cultivation of beets, and it may pave the way foi one of the largest industries the world knows. — I am, Sir, obediently yours, 1) win (Jkvlmill. Claudelands, November 2~>th, 1885.