THE SUGAR BEET ROOT INDUSTRY FOR WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8058, 16 November 1906, Page 2

THE SUGAR BEET ROOT INDUSTRY FOR WAIKATO.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir.—We know VVaikato to be an exceptional field fcr this great industry to develop itself. We have in Waikato soils a thermal compost with a minimum of noxious salts, but which require high-olass scientific culture and fertilisation, only to be obtained by loog experience or through the medium of expert knowledge and application. We have in Waikato atmosphere and climate, a constant guarantee fund equivalent to the value of from one ton to one ton and a-half of pure white chrystalzed beetroot sugar per annum to' each acre of sugar beetroots cultivated properly in Waikato soils (the value of beetroot sugar and sugar o-me sugar when refined are equal and identical) to warrant the financier, and the merchant, and the sugar refiner, in advancing the aid and the stimulants necessary to encourage the cultivator to continued effort to know, and to succeed. We have in New Zealand a free country and the unrivalled position of being the actual geometrical oentre of the habitable globe, with free water communication with all nations, colours and oreeds. We have in the Waikato district all the natural elements, on the spot, requisite to ensure success, in the shape of pure fresh water in such volume as to be available for electrical motor power to any extent, together with abundance of valuable timbers, coal basins, rioh carbonate of lime deposits, analysing upwards of 95 per cent oarbonate of lime in the unburnt stone. With upwards of 200 miles cf navigable fresh water river frontage and a port of her own for costal purposes, with publio railways, and, the liberties, assured to all in a democratic self governing colony, constituting the swivel link in the great chain of British security. What more do we require to offer to those who are willing to help us to start this industry than our assurance of a welcome and an equal chance with ourse'ves as fellow colon'sts in New Zealand—"the Gem of the Pacifio." The Waikato sugar beet fields are surely to become historical in the future of the Paoi-' fie Ocean. With the Continent of Australia under our lee, in her times of need as a market for our produce and dairy sup plies—with Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hi pe at right angles to the west of us, and Panama and Sut z as our pass overs or short cuts from and to Britain and Europe to New Zealand and the East—New Zealand will become so necessary to the Western Races in their commercial and financial interchange with the Eas'«rn Races that a treaty of peaceful neutrality will by common consent of all, be guaranteed to New Zealand by all natives, and reoiprccity become her policy. Therefore for the purposes of the prospeotors of the Waikato sugar beet root field, in which the great cities of Auckland and Wellington will btoome largely interested when the main trunk railway is competed, and connections with Gisb rns and New Plymouth, it should be sufficient to establish expert* mental areas of about 50 seres each ac or near each township or agricultural centre in Waikato Hospital distrior, and demonstrate by ac'ual results to the community of the Waikato townsmen and countrymen what the sugar beet cultivation will mean in the future for all. And there should be sufficient results culled now frcm the past efforts of the few who have been urging the industry forward in VVaikato during the past 25 years, to warrant all who >are interested in Waikato, townsmen and oountryman, investing sne shilling per week in an association formed to thoroughly prove, by practical tests in the field the assertions which have, and are being made by those who thoroughly believe in the future of Waikato and sugar beet root as the base for agricultural success in Waikato. The time and the tide is now in favour for this industry to be promoted in Waikato. We have our Government Experimental Farm in our midst, we have our dairy and bacon industies firmly established, and we have peaoa and plenty surrounding us, and an active demand for all first grade products, but a declining market for all inferior grades—no more sure sign for us to prepare for the winter ahead. We are called upon bj'tte great markets to oarefully grade our buttec and cheese and to cull our flooks and herds, only continuing on the best obtainable, in our dairy cows and stock—if this be oorreot advice, and who can say it is not correot advice? Then it also should beoome our purpose more especially to grade the food to provide for our dairy cows, as half the breeding goes in at the mouth, is a truism admitted by all agriculturists. It is a faot asserted by specialists that the amount of sugar determines the value of the root or food we provide for our dairy stock ; if this ho so, there can be no question that in the sugar biet, s.-ionce has come to the assistance of agriculture and at one bound has regained for the farmer the lead in his own domain—the dairy. Sir, I would ask the Waikato Rootgrower's Association and the Waikato residents to consider my suggestion to form lodges in all towns and dairy centres in Waikato to practioally test the value of sugar beet root for dairy .Burposes, each member to subscribe a shilling a week to provide funds.—l am, etc., WILLIAM A. GRAHAM. Hamilton, November 15th. 1906,