BEETROOT SUGAR.

Evening Star, Issue 6030, 10 July 1882, Page 4

BEETROOT SUGAR.

Mr Edward M‘Glashan, during a visit to the Continent of Europe, took great pains to obtain as much information as possible regarding the cultivation of the sugar-beet and the value of it as a sugar-producing plant. He was fortunate in meeting with Herr F. C. T’hilippson, of Berlin, who most courteously forwarded to him the following letters, which Mr M'Glaahan has scut us for publication Ceriin, December 11, ISBI. Sir,—l beg to refer to my letter of 7th inst., and n*ste’d on 9th hint., and now beg to give you some further information respecting the culture of beet* r °Firsfc of all, you may tell your friends that beetroot mav be grown advantageously on any soil that Is fit for growing barlev. There are, however, some points which have to be ‘taken into consideration as regards the climate. There is a principal condition without which no beetroot for manufacturing sugar can be grown, namclv, that when the root has grown to e certain large size no further growing must take place, ami the formation of sugar within the plant should begin. The climate must bo such that a considerably lowering of temperature takes place towards the 'harvest. The plant should then not shoot any more leaves, nor should the leaves remain fresh, but should begin to wither. In some countries, for instance in the South of Franco, in Italy,.etc., whore the 'temperature remains warm too long, tho growing of tho beetroot has proved a complete failure." Tho roots become too heavy in weight, without containing an adequate quantity of sugar, or at least sutileient saccharine matter to bo fit for manufartnro. 1 I have a list of roots from diverse seeds. Tho weight of the beetroot varies in tho different lots from 410 grammes to 010 grammes medium per rook; whilst the sugar contained in tho juice pressed from the 'diverse roots varies from 12 per cent, to 17 per cent. The medium percentage Of sugar gained from the roots (from weight, not from juice) varies in Germany from S to 10 per cent., whilst in France there is only 5 to 7 per cent, gained. The caiwo of the difference in tho ultimate results lies partly in the better quality of the German soil and climate, but partly also in the difference of the systems of taxation. In Germany the Government tax is raised on the beetroot itself after it lias been cleaned and the heads cut off, ami before it has been converted into sugar. For this reason the German manufacturer try to gain as much sugar as possible out of tho raw material (the tax being heavy), whilst tho French pay tho tax on the produce, and therefore need not bo so particular as the Gormans are to gain a largo quantity of sugar, In the latter case tho pulp is generally more valuable than in the former, and it is a matter of experience and calculation in a country where no taxation takes place which of the two systems should be adopteef—that of gaining larger quantities of sugar or a bettor pulp for feeding puiposos. I have before me tho result of a beetroot sugar manufactory in one of tho best parts of Germany, of which I hereby give you an extract: “ In tho year 1880-1881,176.79cwt of beetroot have been gained per mongen (the mongen is equal to 2,552 square metros or 25.52 ares, whilst tho English acre is equal to 40.4(1 ares; therefore the mongen is about live-eighths of an acre taken in round numbers, without regarding tho fractions, or nearer 17-27ths of an acre). There have boon cultivated 8,212 mongen, as follows39Cm of rye, 738 wheat, 575 oats, 1,027 m beetroot, 33m beetroot for gaining seed. The manufacturing of sugar lasted from September 28 to February 8. There have boon worked within 111 working days 430,300cwfc of beetroot, or 3,930cwt per dav the ground cultivated by the factory furnished 107,205cwt of root, whilst 210,004cwt had boon bought from other plantations. Tho medium content of sugar was mors unfavorable in the Company’s than before, owing to the drought In the beginning of the summer, being only 10.38 per cent. The raw produce for making sugar only amounted to 48,805cwt, out of which were gained 32,511cwt0f crystallised sugar, and other produce, svrnp, etc,, s,Bß9cwt—a total of 37 OOOcwt, or equal to 8.0!) per cent. Tho medium selling price was--For crystallised sugar, with 05.9 percent, of polarisation, 30.30 marks (about 30s 3d) per cwt; and of second produce, with 88.3 per cent, polarisation, 25.77 marks (25s 9d) per owt. Tho molasses weighed 7,057cwt, and wore sold at 4s 9d per cwt. To produce lewt of sugar 11.30cwt of beetroot bad to be used. The cost of beetroot brought in a total of 2s Bd. The expense per cwt of beetroot was as follows S. d. Cost of beetroot .. ..I 1.58 Government tax .. -.9 9‘CXS Expense of manufacture .. 0 6.80 2 5.10 Leaving a gain of nearly 3d per cwt. of beetroot. The total gain has been 87,353 marks, or about L 4,307 net—a bad result, owing to the unfavorable condition of tho root and tho low price of the produce.” I shall be glad to furnish you with any more particulars if you will name them. As 1 mentioned before, I should advise you to have diverse species of seeds sent over to try their growing. I shall bo able to send you a tender for the plant used for manufacturing vug,!’ nil bin a few davs.--1 am, etc., F. C. i’liiMmjox. Berlin, December 15, 1881. Bear sir,-referring to my last later oi ilth inst., 1 now l eg to give you sp. c.iilcalic-i of plant used for ma.mfactuiing Id tons 'if beetroot within twenty - four . ■sirs, moo, ing to about 820,420 10s, ilcdivered alongside steamer in London, including packing'. If a mill working 300 tons per day should be wanted, aii increase of plant will be required, amounting in total to about L 32.220, under the same conditions. I shall be glad to give you any more information that yon and your friends may require, and request you to acknowledge receipt of my letters, in order that J mav lb sure that thev came to hand.—l am, etc., ‘ ' F. C. I’HiniiTsoN. p.-v~I send the tender extra, as a business paper. Referring to my yesterday's letter I omitted to mention that various kinds of beetroot are use.l, and

that there is no rule to establish which is the best, as a great deal depends on the climate, soil, etc. The best soil is a good clay soil, with a covering of several inches of humus and an underground of lime. But this also depends much on other circumstances, as, for instance, the ability cf the soil of lotting water through, the quantity of rain, etc. I should propose your friend to buy several kinds of seed and try. lam ready to buy for them the best seed used here and in France.—Yours, F. C. Philutbon. Berlin, December 15,1881. Tender of plant used for a beetroot sugar-mill, able to work 150 tons of beetroot within twenty-four hours, and a sugar refinery fit to refine the produce of tho raw sugar, , £ 8. d. 1. Two washing machines with iron drums and tanks (including the transmission), at L 155 each . • 810 0 0 2. The iron parts for the two elevators to lift tho beetroot from tho washing machines, and from tho collar to the washing machines, weighing about 3 tons ~ .. ■ • 16b 0 0 3. Chains used for the elevators, about 1 ton 40 0 0 4. One bcet-cutter, with two sots of knives .. .. •• . • • 1/eOO 5. One battery, for diffusing (reducing to pulp) 15cwt of beetroot in each container; ten containers, including pipes and valves, all complete .. 1,075 0 0 0. A pressing machine, to press the cut and diffused beetroot., .. 340 0 0 7. A box to fill up tho diffusing apparatus .. . • • • ■• 18 15 0 8. Two cars to carry the beetroot when cut, at 1.35 .. •• •• 70 0 0 9. One steam engine .. ■ • 230 0 0 10. Four saturation-pans, with pipes and valves complete, at Ll5O .. 600 0 0 11. Three saturation pans for second saturation, at Ll6O .. •• 450 0 0 12. One stone separator .. ■ • 23 15 0 •13. oix improved filter pressers, with twenty-four plates, each at L 97 10s 585 0 % 14. Four furnaces for carbonic oold (iron with brick lining), at L4O .. 160 0 0 18. One pump for carbonic acid, C3O millimetre diameter .. •• 190 0 0 10. Pump, tank, and case for lime installation .. •• •• 76 0 0 17. Two cars to carry tho animal charcoal contained in'the filtering apparatus, nt L 25 .. _ 50 0 0 15. Washing apparatus for charcoal .. 115 0 0 19. Kisfeld apparatus .. •• 200 0 0 20. Four furnaces for burning tho animal charcoal, each fitted with thirty-two cylinders, at L 125 . . 500 0 0 21. Four containers to carry tho charcoal from the furnaces, at LlO .. 40 0 0 22. Two elevators for raising tho charcoal, at LCS .. .. 180 0 0 23. One steam engine for the coalhonse 125 0 0 24. One color'sator for juice, 100 equate metres heating surface .. .. 400 0 0 25. One colorlsator for juice, 40 square metres beating surface .. .. 175 0 0 2G. Five montjuß(apparatus to raise the juice by steam pressure) at 3,000 litres, at LGO 800 0 0 27. EvuporatlngapparatUß(triplo effect), with 400 square metros heating surface, with Dross pipes and valves 2,000 0 0 23. One iron vacuum pan, 2,500 millimetres (about lOOjn diameter, all complete) .. ... 525 o 6 20. One copper vacuum pan, 2,500 milli - metres dlamater, all complete .. 800 0 0 80. Three Hodeck apparatus at LSO .. 150 0 0 81. Three condensers at 1.20 .. .. 60 Q 0 32. Divers pipes for steam for evaporating apparatus and vacuum pans to Hodeck and condenser, about 60 metres, at L2 10s per metre .. 123 0 0 83. One steam-engine, with air and water-pumps, also with juice-pumi>9 and condenser-gearing .. .. 1,750 0 0 34. One pumping-engine .. .. 250 0 0 85. Twelve charcoal filters, 755 millimetres diameter, 0,200 millimetres high, each L7O .. .. .. 810 0 0 80. Five steam boilers complete,{with all fittings, at L 276 ~ .. 1,375 0 0 37. Two feed pumps, at L 45 .. .. 90 0 0 38. Ten centrifugal apparatus, at L 67 10a .. “ 675 0 0 89. Two molasscurs, at LOS .. .. 180 0 0 40. Two cars, for sugar, at LlO .. 20 0 0 41. One elevator for sugar .. .. 66 0 0 42. One iteam engine for the 'sugar house .. .. .. 230 0 0 43. One thousand boxes (system of Schlsgenbach), for crystallising the sugar .. .. .- ■• 650 0 0 44. About 15 tons of iron and brass, for shaftings .. .. • • 460 0 0 45. Divers tanks for water, juice, and steam ; about 80 tons, at L2O .. 1,600 0 0 40. Sundry pipes and valves, in brass and iron, about . .. • • 1,500 0 0 L 20.420 10 0 These prices include packing and delivery to steamship at London. [Noth.—The millimetre is -039871 in. The docimetre is 3D3710in, and the litre the cube of this quantity.— Ed. E.S.] Berlin, December 24,1881. Sir, —1 beg to acknowledge receipt of your favor of 20th, and beg to inform you that my letter of 7th inst. has been returned as nou-dolivcrable. I repeat the principal contents of it, whioh merely said that a middling manufactory of beetroot sugar consumes about 150 to 200 tons of root in twenty-four hours, whilst a largo manufactory could work about 300 tons. Tiie former would require about 2,400 to 2,500 acres of beetroot land ; tho latter about 4,300 to 4,600 acres, all solely cultivated with beetroot. This, of course, will in some measure depend on the character of the soil.—l am, etc., F. O. PlilLIIT&ON-, The following information was received from the British Chamber of Commerce at Paris Estimate of crop for 1881, 153,494 tons, against last year 151,274 tons beetroot sugar.