BEET ROOT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 38, 14 October 1871, Page 2

BEET ROOT.

An interesting record of steps taken by the Government in connection with the subject of colonial industries is contained in some memoranda which have, in printed form, been presented to bot 1 Houses of Assembly. These steps were taken in accordance with resolutions of the Joint Committee by whom the subject of colonial industries was considered last session, and, although there are several matters upon which the recommendations of the committee admitted of no action being taken, in the majority of instances the committee’s suggestions and the Government’s action have resulted in eliciting some valuable information. In the memoranda submitted to the Assembly, the committee’s resolutions are referred to seriatim, and from these references we learn this much—that with their action limited to matters requiring only such small expenditure as might be defrayed from “ general contingencies,” attention has been given to the subjects of water supply, the development of coal-fields, the planting of forest trees, woollen and flax manufactures, sericulture, and technical education. Other subjects referred to in the resolutions of the committee were of a character which could only be dealt with by legislation. From the brief memoranda relating to such subjects as were dealt with, we learn that, during the recess, surveys had been made in each district in which a water supply in connection with goldfields is required; that the best line for a railway for the purpose of connecting the Grey River coalmines with a port had been made the subject of careful inquiry, while reports upon the extent and value of the coal-mines of the West Coast and in other parts of the colony have been prepared by the Geological Department; that the recommendation in the resolution as to sericulture had been given effect to, Mr Batchelor having fulfilled the conditions of planting five acres of mulberry trees, which will be used hereafter for distribution; that practical effect had been given to other resolutions of the 'committee by the offering of rewards for certain articles; and that the adoption of a proposed scheme relating to technical education had been kept in view, so far as any alteration of the Colonial Museum and Laboratory had been made during the past year. It is, however, in the appendices, more than in the memoranda of actual action taken, that the largest amount of information useful to the public is contained; and it is in relation to the cultivation of sugar-producing plants, and to the manufacture of woollen goods, that the information obtained is most interesting as well as extensive. Among the many matters to which the Hon Mr Vogel gave his attention, while on his journey through the American States, that of the cultivation of sugar-produc-ing plants wa£ one; and in the State of Illinois, and elsewhere, he obtained interesting information with regard to the cultivation of sorghum, as a plant which might with benefit be introduced in the northern parts of New Zealand. Writing from San Francisco in February last, he says;—

From all I can learn, it is very doubtful how far the beet- sugar cultivation has been a success here; but everybody seems to agrea that the cultivation of sorghum has been a success —that for cattle feeding the thing is unequalled ; and that from two varieties you can, with proper management, be sure of obtaining sugar. And, continuing his inquiries as he passed through the Prairie States, he gleaned information which, though not altogether encouraging as to the profit of the plant from a manufacturer’s point of view, was so far encouraging as to induce Dr Hector to recommend Mr Vogel to procure a few bushels of the best quality of seed for distribution to the settlers in the districts of Kaipara, Tauranga, and Waikato, so that the question of the growth of the plant might be practically solved in New Zealand, as it has already been in the colony of Queensland. Such information as Mr Vogel was able to obtain from a gentleman connected with the large firms who have—to use a favorite American expression <f made a specialty ” of sorghum machines, seed, &c., is contained in the following memorandum on the subject:— In Illinois and neighboring states, sorgo has been cultivated for ten or eleven years, it having been first introduced experimentally about thirteen years ago. During the late war

the cultivation of this cane had more than a “ spurt” given to it, from the fact that the supply of sugar and syrup from the South could not be relied upon; but now in the strictly Northern States, this kind of crop i 9 being again neglected, as it is not possible to compete with Southern sugar and syrup. The necessity for making something of the sorghum during the war led to the commencement of the improved process now ussd. At present, Mr Bylmyer says, in Illinois, lowa, although sorghum is very extensively grown, very little of the syrup or sugar becomes an article of commerce. The farmers find that it pays them well, as a crop grown to supply their own wants, or to supply the wants of farming disdistricts, the manufacture being conducted by farmers who can afford to invest in machinery, and who are paid in proportion to the yield from the cane —one-third is the proportion stated in the printed papers. Mr Blymyer says that in Illinois and the neighboring states, all attempts to grow beet profitably have been “dead failures,” because of the cost and the expense involved in the culture. But he also says that no fairly conducted experiment with any kind of the sorgo has been other than profitable in the states named. Dnring the last ten years 30,000 of the Cook evaporator and the Victor mill have been sold by the firm or firms with which Mr Blymyer is connected ; the sale price amounting to 3,000,000 dollars. As the growers of sorghum so largely consume the products, no reliable estimate of the quantities of sorghum syrup and sugar at present produced can be given ; but Mr Blymyer says that the culture of the plant is very general indeed. At the establishment of Messrs Hovey and Co, I was told that last year enough of sorghum could not be obtained to meet the demands for seed $ the sort next in favor being the imphee. It is claimed that syrup from the sorgo is not only as pleasant to the taste as any Southern cane syrup, but that it is much more healthful as an article of ordinary household use. Associated with this subject of sugarmanufacture, and even more interesting is the memorandum supplied by Mr F. A. Krull, of Wellington, with regard to the cultivation of beet-root as a present source of wealth in Germany, and as an industry worthy of encouragement in New Zealand. His memorandum is so full of suggestive figures that we quote it in full: — I have been for some time engaged in the interesting study of the culture of the beet plant in Germany, and the manufacture of sugar from the saccharine contained in the root. I am astonished at the rapid progress and present magnitude of the industry; and its having proved such an almost inexhaustible source of national wealth to Germany, convinces me that it would be wise policy to naturalise it in New Zealand, if circumstances were favorable to the growth of the plant. In 1867, for instance, the duty on sugar imported into Germany amounted to only £73,000, whereas on inland manufactured sugar it amounted to nearly £2,000,000. There are now 296 beetroot sugar manufacturers at work on the Zollverein. The beetroot sugar now pays a duty equal to 10s per cent; but it is by no means protected ; on the contrary, the duty is in favor 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 beetroot. Steadily and surely has this industry increased ; until it is now one of the most productive the States possess; and not only does it yield a revenue of £2,000,000, but it creates a demand for labor .to the same amount, and returns to the soil as nearly as possible an equivalent in manure and stockcarrying 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. During the years 1836 to 1840 no duty was levied on sugar; in 1840 to 1841 a duty was levied at the rate of sixpence per ton of 20 cwt. of clean washed beetroot. It gradually increased until 1858 to 1859, when it was raised to fifteen shillings per ton ; and since Ist September, 1869, it has been raised to sixteen shilling per ton of beetroot. Levying the duty on the beetroot and not on the sugar has necessarily resulted in the beetroot being brought as nearly as possible to perfection for the required purpose. Whereas formerly, from the imperfect acquaintance of the growers with the laws by which the valuable substance secreted in the root is regulated, it required about 18 cwt. of beet to yield 1 cwt. of sugar, now the average is 12J cwt., which brings the actual duty as nearly as is required for comparison to ten shillings per cent., or equal to that of New Zealand.

The cost of producing the loaf-sugar from beetroot is about thirty shillings per cwt. Labor is essentially cheaper than in our colonies ; but on the other hand, land fit for the cultivation of beetroot pays a yearly rent of forty-five shillings per acre, and in some instances is eighty-six shillings. The average crop is from twelve to fourteen tons per acre. If, therefore, it should be ascertained by experiment, that the beetroot grown here would contain enough saccharine (and I may mention that I have written to Germany for seed of the three now recognised species, which, on arrival I shall have much pleasure in handing over to you), I have no hesitation in saying that the cultivation of the plant would not only be highly profitable to those embarking in it, but would, in a very few years be able to contribute to the revenue —and not only that but, as soon as the industry got more developed, it would give employment to a

greater number of hands than any other that could be established in New Zealand ; and it is self-evident that the labor employed must be an indirect source of revenue, from its consumption of commodities that pay duty. I fully believe that beetroot sugar, after being fairly introduced, will bo able to pay a gradual duty up to £4 or £5 per ton ; and the difference, as compared with the present duty, will be more than compensated by the many economical advantages incidental to the manufacture. I have already corresponded on the subject with friends and experienced persons at home ; and I am justified in saying that, if the conditions existing in New Zealand were proved favorable for the growth of the plant, a company could easily be formed in Germany, who would come out to the colony, bringing with them their own workmen and their own machinery, if the New Zealand Government would meet them in a liberal spirit. Such a company would require to get on reasonable terms, a block of from 3,000 to 4,000 acres of good land, within convenient distance from a suitable shipping place ; and would also require protection for a limited number of years, until the industry had fairly established itself.

A company to produce 500 tons of sugar in a year, would require a capital of about £35,000, and land to the extent of from 3,000 to 4,000 acres. It would give employment to a very great number of people; and yet the ground would produce so abundantly as not only to yield a fair return to the capitalist, but also a good living to all the laborers employed. It would also, after a few years, as already pointed out, become a source of direct and indirect revenue to the State.

Contrast this with the large tracts of country fenced in by the New Zealand runholders, which, though undoubtedly affording nourishment to many thousand sheep and cattle, are of little benefit to human beings and comparatively useless to the colony. In the manufacture of beetroot sugar everything is profit to the State, and thousands of pounds are saved which would otherwise pass out of the country.

The concluding pages of the Parliamentary paper from which we quote are occupied with estimates of the cost of machinery requisite for different descriptions of woollen and flax manufactures —estimates obtained by the Colonial Treasurer, and by his Secretary, from competent authorities in the manufacturing districts of England. They are of especial interest to persons contemplating the commencement of such industries in the colony.