SUGAR BEET-GROWING IN VICTORIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 13

SUGAR BEET-GROWING IN VICTORIA.

As a result of a visit of inspection to the Maffra Beet Sugar Factory (says the Australasian), made by the Victorian Minister of Agriculture recently, it has been decided that the factory should be continued for at least another year, and that, if the results are again satisfactory, the factory shall be continued in the following year. In stating the position, the Minister said that he had gone into the whole situation while at Maffra. The season which had just ended had 'been the most satisfactory one experienced up to date. It would be fully a month before the whole of the figures wore available; but, roughly, the position was that 8800 tons of beet had been treated at the factory, and the sugar percentage had been 12 per cent., which would give about 1056 tons of sugar for the season. That position was far and away better than any that had yet been experienced.

It was stipulated that 1000 acres of beet should be grown, of which at least 750 acres should be irrigated. It was further decided that the price for the beet should be 23* per ton —which is the present price—-

for 10,000 tons, and that should the growers increase the supply to 12,500 tons, the price should be increased to 245; while it the supplies reached 15,000 tons or over the price would be increased to 25s per ton.