CULTIVATION OF SUGAR BEET IN ENGLAND

New Zealand Mail, 5 February 1902, Page 54

CULTIVATION OF SUGAR BEET IN ENGLAND

During the season the Earl of Denbigh lias again continued the experiments made ill the growth of sugar beet at Newnliam Paddocks, and the result is favourable as in previous seasons. His Lordship further considered that ic would he very desirable to show what the result would be with sugar beet grown in the ordinary course of cultivation of root crops by some tenants on his estate in Warwickshire, and it was arranged that four occupiers of land should each grow one half acre of sugar beet in the same field and under the same cultivation as a crop of mangolds. The roots were analysed by Mr Sigmund Stein, of Liverpool, and it was found that the roots grown in England were much superior to those grown in Germany, but this will bo shown more clearly if the value of the roots per ton is considered and calculated on the data given by Dr. Carl Stammer; the German roots would be worth for the manufacture of sugar 17s a ton, but those grown by Mr J. L. Harrison 27s a ton, by Mr William Kenney 26s 9d, Mr J. Parker Toone 255, and Mr John Wright 275. It should be noted that the value of tho beetroot for the manufacture of sugar depends on the quantity of sugar in 100 parts of the juice and in the quotient of purity. We cannot give the weight of roots grown in Germany, but it is most probably not more than 12. tons to the acre, so that in the weight given above there is a further advantage in those grown at Newnliam Paddocks. It is always an advantage to give in £ s. d. the result of an experiment, and the following w r ould be the result, taking the data of Dr. Carl Stammer. Statement showing the value per acre of the roots grown on the Newnliam Paddocks estate for the manufacture of sugar:—Mr J. L. Harrison, 23 tons, 18cwt., at 27s a ton equals £32 os 3d per acre; Mr W. Kem iiey 19 tons 4cwt., at 26s 9d a ton, equals £25 13s 7d per acre; Mr J. P. Toone, 17 tons 12cwt., at 25s per ton, equals £22 18s per acre. The above are the.gross returns, and it will not be forgotten that the cost of growing sugar beet is more than for a crop of mangolds, but as this varies very much in different places, we leave it for others to draw their own conclusions, and only remark that the cost of growing sugar beet may be put at £1 per acre more than for'mangolds, and there would abo be . the cost of hauling the sugar beet to the works, which it would be necesdistrict GreCt m SUgar beet Sowing

The provision of these works is, however, a question for capitalists,, and has nothing to do with the point now under consideration. It is an open question whether a crop of sugar beet would take

more out of the land than*. 9 golds, and though- 1 solute reply, We - may to a 1 field on tho Home pu!^ 1011 tk.7 1 Paddocks that was croSjf 1 beet and mangolds in l year sown with oats,, and **> 1 tho slightest difference to ? ere Wc| the different crops *£ J oats were an excemimUii > for the season. In by the Earl of Denbivh^ 111 ® 11 * 5 1 of 1900-1901 it for weight mangolds gave a ter return cf milk from cowan’ll beet, and there is no use plant mangolds with sugar Vi for cattle, but if sugar were established it has ..inerica and elsewhere that ® 1 of the sugar beet after S been extracted is a valuablef™ RJr M tide for cattle, and as it k for manufacture it could fiee of Charge by the growerVX*** gar beet. One objection L f tte »• ' raised against the cultivation* 7 c beet is the extra cost of gl; roots up as compared viH, Cg and no doubt this is a they are raised with forks interesting, therefore, to L ; garrison raised his beet vSj cessfally by running a Js " c ' the rows. No material damage^ 4 ' to the roots, and the cost o£w- d * e ing was by no means a •heavjfoj^