The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal exact justice to all men, Of Whatsoever state or persuasion. religious or political. THURSDAY, FEB, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2431, 9 February 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal exact justice to all men, Of Whatsoever state or persuasion. religious or political. THURSDAY, FEB, 1888.

What is the most profitable us< that our farm lands can lie put to ? This is a problem exercising many minds at tin; present 'iioment, and one found difficult of solution. Grazing and cattle-rearing have not been distinguished for much, if any, remunerative success during the pnsi few years. The cultivation of cereals is attended with such uncertainty, risks, and disappointments, that ii offers little encouragement to farmers, especially those whose whole dependence rests on the yearly returns of their ci'ops. In the Old Country, where the agricultural interests have fallen to a lamentably low ebb, attention has turned in the direction of dairy farming, which lias been undergoing developments on an elaborate and extensive scale, as the coming industry 011 which the good fortune of the farmers will take its turn. Following the lead of the British agriculturists in the same direction, great activity and practical steps have been taken in these colonies to perfect and push ahead the Duiry. But more can be done by farmers besides making butter, or supplying milk to the creameries for butter making. They can utilise portions of their lands for other purposes, provided it is shown that thoso purposos will yield them satisfactory results. In all countries there are tracts of land lying under conditions, such as variations of soil,climate, and accessibility, which render them best

suited only for specific purposes. Thus, as far as New Zealand is concerned, the lands of Otago and the Canterbury plains are peculiarly favourable for cereals and tubers, as well as pastoral purposes. The back country of Wellington is notably a pastoral district, so also with Taranaki and most of the East Coast, though in many parts o{ the latter there is a special suitability for the cultivation of maize, which is there extensively grown. In our own district of Waikato wo havo a peculiar soil. It has been proved that grain of very superior quality can be grown in almost any part of tho extensivo basin watered by the Waikato, Waipa and Thames rivers. But owing to many adverse outside influences, and tho absence of free accessibility, it is decidedly unprofitable to engage in the pursuit of cereal cultivation to any extent much beyond

local requirements. It has, however, been demonstrated beyond doubt, that the Waikato soil is adaptable for other uses of an agricultural nature, and those are the cultivation of sugarbeet, and this- can Vie done as a most valuable auxiliary to tho dairy industry. Much has been said on this subject; it has been well kept beforo the people of the Waikato for several years back, but, we must not at the same time allow ourselves to fall into a state of indifferentism over it. The cultivation of sugar-beet and the manufacture of beet sugar has created a revolution in Europe and is at this moment one of the most potent factors in the industrial position of France and Germany, seriously a fleeting the sugar trade- of otucr countries. Germany takes the lead in the production ot sugar to the extent of about i 10,000,000, followed by Franco with an annual yield of about £20,00(1,00(1. Considerable attention has been drawn in the United .States to the value of tho beet sugar, which is rapidly driving tho cane-sugar out of the market, is proved by the very languishing condition in which cane cultivation in the Southern States has boon thrown. Mr Claus Spreekles, of commercial renown, has become a thorough convert to the raising of beet sugar, and is at the present time, as wo learn from our San Francisco exchanges, devoting his great abilities and wealth towards establishing the industry on tho Pacific Slope on a firm and

commanding basis. Sugar is an indispensable article of consumption, and the niauufaeturo of it should be also indispensable to a country ; and if a country possesses conditions favourable for its prosecution, such as soil and climate, then every opportunity should be availed of for engaging in it. The Waikato is in that position, if the genius and spirit of enterprise of its people will realise the fact. It is not alone the direct value of the industry which v.'o must consider, which is in itself enormous, but also its corrollary There is the benefit bestowed upon the soil by rotating tho crops, which Mr Spreckles shows in this way:—The first year beets, the second yar grain, and in the third year, the land is manured and sown in grain again; after which return to beets. A man with a farm of one hundred acres could have thirty-three acres in beets, which would give a better return than the other sixty-six acres. The pulp refuse from the sugar mills forms excellent manure, and, with the tops, constitutes a fodder and ensi'age which cattle will devour greedily. It has been found that mo butter is so rich and tineilavou red as that produced from cows which have been fed on sugaroeet fodder, The establishment of the industry will lie incalculable in other ways, as, for instance, in creating a permanent source of pecuniary profit to the growers of i.eet, one that would not be of doubtful or intermittent stability, but of growth and importance :ii'tvnuial with the increase of popu.•itiou and sugar consumption. Cheap □ gar, which the locallv-manufac--1 tired article would be, would enthe preserving and canning wf fruits, of which again the Waikato is a large, producer. In America his view of (he value of the sugar industry isso recognised, that there is an agitation goiny on in that country to remove tin; sugar duties, to have in fact free trade in sugar, ; hat it may be obtained cheaply to stimulate fruit canning. It is impossible, in the limited space of a newspaper article to go as fully into the merits of this great question as it deserves; there are many points untouched which must lie dealt with on a future oueasion. Wo are aware that the interest of many of our farmers have been awakened to its importance, and that they are prepared to enter into the cultivation of sugar beet systematically in the event of capi talists coming forward to erect mills in the district for the manufacture of the sugar. We have grounds for saying that as much as four thousand acres are waiting to be set aside for the purpose. What is required to give the necessary impetus is the capital, either on the part of a joint stock company or some enterprising individual with

wealth at his command. If that happens then we may depend upon seeing the inauguration of an epoch of great-future prosperity for the Waikato, rich in its dairy and sugar industries.