The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-05-11
Sugar Culture.

In the year 1867 our import of foreign sugar, re-
tanned for consumption, amounted to eight hundred
and thirty-six millions of pounds. Our domestic
product of and maple sugar, in 1860, three
hundred and forty millions of pounds of which
exported six and half millions of pounds. There
being necessity for advantage in, greater accu-
racy, may put our annual consumption now at
eleven hundred millions of pounds England, in
1885, imported and retained for consumption eleven
hundred millions of pounds, and France, with pop
ulaton about equal to ours produced of beet root
sugar 1865, five hundr ed and seventyve millions
of pounds, of which she exported to England one
hundred and six millions. The import of foreign
gar France for that year have not but it mat
ters not. The estimates of French stats ii clans
based upon the past growth of this product, fixes
thousand millions the probable product OF the year
1877. Supposing that the consumption will grow
with the supply, France will, in eight years.
grow all her sugar, and very closely equal the
consumption of Great Britain or the United States
that is these three countries will be each consuming
q thousand to eleven hundred mions-England i'm
porting the whole of hers, the two thirds of ours
and France completely supplying herself. The cost
to Great Britain ir the countries of production Is
about fifty millions Of dollars to us, thirty five mil
lions for the quantity imported to France, IN the
prospect nothing, with another great adv sntage
the political disturbances occurring in the semtrop-
ical countries which the chief producers of the
sugar of commerce.
1t is nearly sixty years since the manufacture of
beet-root sugar first after pied in France Thir
ty-three years ago it amounted to eightyfo mill
ions of pounds in the next twenty years it grew 30
per cent? at the rate of 3z per cent. per annum;
and between 1856 and 1866 its product increased 200
per cent, IL per cent. per annum and it is quite
capable of maintaining this rate of increase for ten,
twenty, or thirty years to come.
The English are taking measures to establish this
manufacture. They are feeling the inundation OF
French and Belgium sugars But it is not clear that
their soil is well adapted and the enterprise is liable
to another drawback with them. The moasses and
impure juices of the beet-root good for nothing
except for the manufacture Of alcoksl. The whole
profit in France is derived from ths product but
in England alcohol is heavily taxed that this
ufacture would yield nothing. For many reasons, it
is not at all likely that the English will succeed in
the attempt to any encouraging extent.
We need not argue the feasibility Of the beet-root
sugar culture in this country We certainly have the
soil and climate somewhere, and the capital and
terprise ready for the undertaking. 1t is sufficiently
we'll understood to be started in Illinois, Indiana, and
California, for instances and bids fair succeed in
these States, and thence to spread to whatever
gons shall be found adapted. We need not depend
upon the annexation OF Cuba to raturalize the do.
mestic supply, upon the cane the maple, in
out of the Union, sole resources. II France has
become self-supplyng, and able. after the next half
dozen years, to raise much Great Britain the
United States consume it will not be long before the
beet-root, helping and maple product, will
make seli-supplying and independent. The three
sources thus united, with such differences of condi-
tons as may obtain among them, will also be good
defense the unrendliness of the seasons the
beetroo being in fact the best security against fall
of crops. Our maple sugar not capable of any
considerable extension, is the cane In the decaoe
1s5Ols6O they increased only 25 per cent, and left
to buy $4,000, 900 worth abroad every year. Ten
years of well addressed efforts could probably be
made to our whole demand, keep pace with its
growth aferward and yield beside larger and stead
ier revenue than wheat in foreign markets. One
thing certainly is demonstrated by the experience of
France and Begium-it can be sold in the worlds
markets in the face of all other sugars wherever pro-
duced; and another thing, of less Importance
the prodgious rapidty of growth in product Of which
it is capable. Moreover, both nutriment and lux
ury its abundance and superabundance is to be hail
cd one of the best blessings which the earth has
been made to yield under madern agriculture.-IN.
Tribune.