SUGAR BEET.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2848, 14 October 1890, Page 2

SUGAR BEET.

Tub following translation of a letter written to Mr \V. A. Graham, by a French agriculturist, Mr Patte, who has lately purchased Captain Steele's old farm, near Hamilton, will bo read with much interest. In the writers opinion the beet sugar industry might be undertaken in Waikato with'every prospect ot success. The letter speaks rr.nst sanguinely upon the advantages that would be derived from its introduction and development in New Zealand September '20th.. IS9O. Mr (frahani, freeholder, Hamilton.—l much regret not being able to write you in English, so as to make you acquainted with my opinion on the Sugar Beet industry, but be good enough to get this letter translated either by Mr Le Quesne or Mr Forbes. Some time ago I had the pleasure of hearing you speak on the Sugar Beet industry I was delighted to find you took such an in terest in the welfare of this country, which I reciprocate, and I also think that this country is all that is desirable for the growtli of beet. It is with the lands produce that we all live, and the country that censes to cultivate what it can import will soon find there is nothing loft to pay for the import, and a famine would bo in prospective. It would certainly be the ease, not working the lands, instead of letting them lay idle. (leneral as well as private interests are alike conccrned in the succbss of sugar bofit. It would employ the now unemployed, and give an impetus to the country's commerce. I ain going to give you an account rrom France, of the progress of the industry, exuuse me for taking up so much of your valuable time. In ISS4 there wa in France 100,000 acres planted in sugar beet, the crop produced 7,300,000 tons sold at IS and 20 franca per ton making 150 millions francs. The quantity of sugar extracted from tho 7,300,000 tons root was 11S,000 tons. For the campaign of l-SSO-OO six years afterwards there were 420,000 acres planted producing G,000.000 tons. What does one say? Less than ISS4 ? Wait! These (5,005,000 tons were sold at the rate of 30 and 32 francs a ton be 'n» 80 per cent, higher than in 18S4. And why ? Because they were licher in sugar and gave a far better return of which the subjoined is the proof. Tho 7,300,000 tons of root in 188-1 produced 418,000 tons raw sugar, in 18110 the 0,000,000 tons of root produced SOO,OOO tons raw sugar, nearly double the result from a smaller quantity. This is how the farmers drew from the crop in 1SS1) an average of; 30 frances a ton making 200 millions of francs showing a surplus of 05 millions to the growers as well as a larger profit for the manufacturer of the machinery for as to obtain the above results the old machinery had to be replaced with new. Now, let us see. New Zealand consumes say 10,000 to 12,000 tons or more of sugar annually at say £10 a ton, making a total of £180,000 which would remain here and all would derive a benefit, from the workman who would live more comfortably, &c., &c. Say the produce of one acre of land to be 20 tons of roots at say IGs a ton would be £10 an acre, the farmer planting 20 acres would get £320. The grower could not but feel more and more encouraged, and I feel sure it would materially benefit the youth of this country. Another advantage the farmer has. he can plant the sugar beet after his wheat, oat, &c. crops are sown, viz., in Octobor. He is not disturbed then in any of his other crops nor either does it interfere with the grain harvests, for the beet comes in after they are gathered, I think March and April, The producer also gets back from the sugar mill the pulp from his roots, which is very good for fattening sheep. I feel sure, Mr (I Tallinn, that sooner or Inter the country will repent not having acted before this for the land is well adapted for the growth of sugar beet and the country would not require to get from other countries what it can produce itself. This is what I wished to say to you.—Accept, dear sir, my most sincere regards from F. Path:. Translated by A. Forbes.