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7

As for the location of a factory, it is of the utmost importance that there are good roads to it. You must remember that the cartage of the roots is very heavy, and that it has to be done at the end of autumn and beginning of winter, when roads are soft. In the hilly parts of Aisne and Oise, to avoid as much carting as possible, crushing-mills were dotted about the valleys, whence the beetjuice was pumped through miles of pipes to the central factory. With regard to the financial aspect of the question, there is no doubt that the establishment of a beet-sugar factory in a district is of enormous advantage to the farmers. What is received from the factory, less the cost of cartage of roots and pulp, may be said to be almost all profit, as the pulp when properly stored is as good or better for feeding growing stock than the whole root. But, with respect to the factory-owners, I am bound to say that sugar-making by itself was not profitable when I knew it, and in our part of the country could eventually only be carried on by the great cultivators and sugar-refiners taking it in hand in connection with their farms and refineries —that is, carrying it on for the sake of the profits attending beet-cultivation on the one hand and sugar-refining on the other. I may mention in this connection that my friend, M. Henri Waddington, found beet-cultivation in connection with distillation still more profitable than in connection with sugar-making. Another great reason for neighbouring cultivators themselves being connected with the undertaking is that the sugar season only lasts a few months, so some other work must be found for the ordinary hands for the rest of the year, or otherwise a proper staff could not be counted on for the factory when absolutely needed. I have, &c, J. C. Yon Stieglitz, Esq., M.H.A., Chairman of the A. Mault. Beet-sugar Inquiry Committee of the House of Assembly.

Copy of Beet-moot Analysis by Mr. Waed, Government Analyst, dated 21st June, 1895. Per oent. 1. Specific gravity of juice ... ... ... ... 1,082-5 Total sugar... ... ... ... ... ... ... 13-17 Mineral matter (ash) ... ... ... ... ... ... 1-15 Water lost at 212° Fahr. ... ... ... ... ... 78-70 2. Specific gravity of juice ... ... ... ... 1,0917 Total sugar... .. ... ... ... ... ... 15-66 Mineral matter (ash)... ... ... ... ... ... 0-69 Water lost at 212° Fahr. ... ... ... ... ... 74-10 The juice has been taken as 90 per cent, of the beets. Note.—No. 2 beet was grown Westbury Township. No. 1 grown about 4 miles distant from No. 2. W. F. Wabd, Government Analyst. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,400 copies), £ 8 Iβ. 6d.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB97. Price, 6(1.]