7

H.—2

TABLE showing approximately the Quantities of Beets used in the Manufactories of the Zollverein, the Products extracted, and Rate of Taxation, from 1840-41 to 1865-66.

Germany—production.

In a memorandum written by Mr. P. A. Krull, German Consul in this city, in 1871 3 that gentleman says, — There are now 296 beet-root sugar manufacturers at work on the Zollverein. The beet-root sugar now pays a duty equal to 10s. per cent.: but it is by no means protected ; on the contrary, the duty is in favour of unrefined sugar imported from the colonies, inasmuch as the residue syrup from that sugar is considerably higher in value than that left from the beet-root. Steadily and surely has this industry increased, until it is now one of the most productive the States possess ; and not only docs it yield a revenue of £2,000,000, but it creates a demand for labour to the same amount, and returns to the soil as nearly as possible an equivalent in manure and stock-carrying capacity. Besides, it has imparted to land, before almost unproductive, an immense value, and opened up a field for the profitable employment of a very large capital. The Sugar Cane, a periodical to which I have already referred, gives the following return, as the estimated crop of beet-root sugar on the Continent of Europe for the season 1875-76, as compared with the four previous periods : — 1875-76. 1874-75. 1873-74. 1872-73. 1871-72. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. France... ... ... 475,000 ... 450,877 ... 396,578 ... 408,649 ... 335,351 Germany (Zollverein) ... 305,000 ... 250,579 ... 288,972 ... 258,663 ... 189,166 Austro-Hungary ... 170,000 ... 121,520 ... 169,250 ... 214,107 ... 161,527 Eussia and Poland ... 150,000 ... 130,000 ... 150.000 ... 150,000 ... 90,000 Belgium ... ... 75,000 ... 71,079 ... 70,366 ... 75,978 ... 72,230 Holland and other Countries 30,000 ... 30,000 ... 35,000 ... 35,000 ... 25,000 Total 1,205,000 1,054,055 1,110,166 1,142,397 873,280 For the returns of the years 1867 to 1870 I am indebted to a statement made by Mr. Caird before the Society of Arts in 1871. The quantities for 1867, 1868, and 1869 are ascertained, those for 1870 estimated : 1867. 1868. 1869. 1870. France ... ... ... ... 224,767 ... 213,904 ... 285,146 ... 300,000 Germany... ... ... ... 165,014 ... 208,140 ... 215,407 ... 250.000 Austria ... ... ... ... 124,068 ... 101,601 ... 152,205 ... 175,000 Eussia and Poland... ... ... 112,500 ... 87,500 ... 132,500 ... 135,000 Belgium ... ... ... ... 31,039 ... 37,078 ... 43,552 ... 50,000 Holland, Sweden, and Italy ... ... 7,500 ... 10,000 ... 12,500 ... 15,000 Totals ... ... ... 604,888 658,223 841,310 925,000 When you notice these returns, and compare them with the following statement of the production of beet sugar by the manufactories in Europe for the

Europe—production.

Year. Number of Factories. Beets used, tons. Eaw Sugar, tons. Molasse3, tons. Tons of Beets to a Ton of Sugar. Sugar, per cent. I 8 Total yield, per cent. s4 §3 H £ 3& J> 1840 1845 1850 1851 1S58 18G0 1861 18G2 1S63 1864 1865 145 96 184 234 257 247 242 217 253 270 300 241,486 222,754 736,215 914,495 1,833,427 1,467,701 1,584,619 1,835,663 1.999,576 2,079,729 2,106,000 13,445 14,850 52,586 60,966 146,674 126,526 122.83S 138,042 151,180 165,978 180,000 8,955 6,905 19,877 27,434 45,835 35,224 38,050 44,055 47,989 49.913 50,544 18 15 14 15 12 5 11-6 129 13 132 124 11-7 555 667 7-14 667 8 8-62 775 752 755 7-93 8-54 37 31 27 3 25 2-4 2 4 2 4 2 4 24 2-4 925 977 9-84 9-67 1050 1102 10-15 992 995 10-28 1094 •12 •71 1-42 1-42 356 356 356 356 356 356 356