SUGAR BEET ROOT

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 7005, 9 May 1906, Page 1

SUGAR BEET ROOT

A WAIKATO ASSOCIATION FORMED

At a meeting specially called for the purpose (Mr Allen Bell in the chair) and held in the Fanners' Union room, Victoria-street Hamilton, on Saturday last, the question of making another effort to cultivate «,he sugar beet root in Waikato for dairy and commercial purposes was discussed. Mr Graham said his object in calling the meeting was the establishment of a sugar beet root industry iu Waikato. At this stage, he advocated oniy the cultivation of beets as a preparatory crop, for grain, for miik, and for butter, but Dot for sugar. The excess of sugar in the roots he regarded under these circumstances as a by-product, or a reserve fun 1, as it were, for future operations. The sugar beet w(,s only intended to take the place of ihe mangold or turnip on small areas, to enable the close or suburban settler to make his section pay him its full value in conjunction with other crops. It would restore the time-honoured four-course system of agriculture, namely (1) wheat or oats, the latter preferred; (2) barley; (3) sugar beet; (4) wheat. All these products would be fed on the homestead to dairy stock, or consumed in family or domestic use. He suggested that landowners should set apart 10 or 20 per cent, of their estates for small sections to be cultivated by families on the methods recommended and should assist them with stock on shares, lie suggested that an association should be formed and supported by contributions of a sum to be agreed on by each member, payable monthly in advance. It should not be a trading association, but should supply its members with the latest informa'ion in regard to prices and values, the relations of the industry to agriculture generally and all matters connected with the cultivation of the roots.

A resolution, proposed by Mr Young, and seconded by Mr Milne, was parsed : " Thata Waika-o Sugar Beet Soot Growers association be formed, and that Messrs W. A. Graham, Allen Bell, Me'ville, Milne and Homewau be appointed a committee, witn power to add to their number, to carry out the resolu ion, collect data, and take all the necessary steps to establish the foundations for the above Association in Waikato, to lay before another meeting convened to meet in the same place on Saturday, 19th, at 2 p.m sharp.

It is intended to confine the operations of the Association iu its present stage to cultivating the sugar beets, for dairy •<nd domestic purposes, in small areas, the oljact being to promote close settlement to surround the numerous Waikato township and creameries. At the meeting evidence was given by Mr L. O'Neill, Mr Young, Mr Milne and Mr Bell of the superiority of sugar beets over potatoes, or any other roots, for milk cows,as proved by their own experience, also the success ot their crops and their thorough satisfaction with the results of these tests in cultivation of the sugar beet root. Mr Milne stated he had proved that one ton of beets was as valuable to him as four tons of mangolds for his dairy. Mr O'Neill stated he had proved to his own and to Mrs O'Neill's satisfaction, that there was no mistake in classifying sugar beets as superior to any other roots for dairy cows for butter-making. Mr Young stated his beets, grown in Hamilton, had yielded by analysis, in Wellington, 20 per cent, of and that he had no difficulty in growing the roots. Mr O'Neill stated he°hatvested 16 tons from an acre of land under the disadvantages of a mass of twitch grass in the field, and the analysis of his beet roots had jiiven over 15 cent, sugar. Mr A. 801 l statod that he was very satisfied indeed with his trial. Mr Graham read correspondence with Messrs Langguth and Co., merchants, of Auckland, who have undertaken to forward samples of average Waikato soil for analysis to Europe and to obtain the very best class of seed and manure tor a 10-acre test of roots, the s"ed and manure to arrive in September next, nnd the seed to be distributed in small lots to those who desire to join the Association.

On the motion of Mr O'Neill, a hearty vote of thanks to Mr W. A. Graham for his persistent efforts to start this industry in Waikato, was passed, and a vote of thanks to Mr Bell for presiding, brought the meeting to a cltse.