ENGLISH SUGAR BEET

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 140, 14 June 1924, Page 16

ENGLISH SUGAR BEET

GROWING AREAS BEING

CROPPED,

That the. cultivation of the sugar beet is making good headway in England is evident from inquiries made by a representative of the "Christian Science Monitor" at the offices of the British Sugar Beet Growers' Society in London. Three years ago the society's report showed an area of 7000 acres under sugar beet, which was-only sufficient to keep the two factories at Kelham, in Nottinghamshire, and at Cantley, in Norfolk, working at half their capacity. Last year some 15,000 acres were under beet, and both factories were working at full capacity, and produced 15,000 tons of sugar. Farmers are reported as really keen on growing sugar beet, and all that is necessary now is the building of further factories. These must be within easy reach of the land where the beet is grown. The railway companies have given special rates, so that the grower may not be hit too hard by freight charges. AncT at present there is no excise duty on . homegrown and manufactured sugar. Mr. Mac Donald, asked if he -would continue this policy should the Labour Party come into'pow'er, said that he should advise this.

The society is able .to show enthusiastic letters from farmers- all over the country testifying to the value of the dried pulp from sugar beet as food for cows. Many quote, considerable increase of milk yield. In this, of course, they are only discovering what tho American farmer found out. Eomo time ago It has been well established,'too, that the beet crop, increases tho fertility of the land. It is a profitable cleaning I crop for agricultural rotation and lowers the figure at which cereals following it can be grown. Added" to this, the farmer sells his sugar beet crop for cash, in contradistinction to mangold roots from which he has to wait fora less return after its indirect use as feed for cattle.

How much further England has to go really to help the" sugar question through the production of sugar from beet, may be gauged from the fact that last year's crop of 15,000 tons of sugar is only enough for three days' home requirements.