The Star. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1884.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5108, 16 September 1884, Page 2

The Star. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1884.

Amongst the new industriks which have at various times been spoken of as desirable undertakings in New Zealand, and as capable of yielding a large return on tbe invested capital, is the manufacture of sugar from beetroot. That the growth of this root on a large scale, and the manufacture of sugar therefrom, should be somewhat generally looked to as a most promising enterpi-ise is scarcely tobe wondered at, seeing that in other countries much wealth has thereby been gathered in. Germany, for example, began, many years ago, to import beet sugar, a good market being found in the United States ; and in the course of a decade the annual value of the import had increased just tenfold, the returns for 1882 amounting to .£27,000. Meanwhile, the mode of manufacture has been greatly improved, the quantity of root necessary to produce a pound of raw sugar having been reduced from twelve to ten pounds. The improvements effected, aided by a tariff system that has — somewhat unintentionally — tended to foster the industry, have given a new impetus to this sugar trade, it being anticipated that the next returns will show the existence of at least fifteen additional factories. It by no means follows, however, that the example of Germany can be successfully followed in New Zealand, in this part of the Colony, at any rate. True, Mr Thiele has obtained seed from Germany, has grown some beet, and has produced sugar therefrom ; a sample being sent to the Industrial Association. And we notice that a paper on the cultivation of sugar from beet — presumably as applicable to Canterbury — is to be read by Mr Thiele at a meeting of the Association. This beiug the case, it is advisable to call attention to the last report issued by Mr Gray, the lecturer on Chemistry at the School of Agriculture. In the course of his laboratory work during the past year, Mr Gray has devoted a good deal of attention to the composition of root crops grown on the farm, and has analysed four samples of the " Imperial sugar beet." The results, from an industrial point of view, are not satisfactory. Mr Gray says : — "In each case the percentage of sugar is below that required, according to authorities on the subject, for remunerative working ; bearing out the assertion made in the report of the School for the first term, 18S3, that under ordinary conditions the climate in this part of New Zealand is not sufficiently favourable for the growth of beet to render the beet sugar industry a success." This is a bard fact which seems to effectually dispose of tho project so far. as Canterbury is concerned.