The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-12-14
MI is ella n @ O El s..
The Beet Sugar Industry in France.

In 1926 France produced total of15, 900
tons of beet sugar in over 100 factories.-
In 1887 the product was $4,000 tons. In
the meanwhile, France has doubled the pro-
duction of beet sugar every ten years, and
the consumption of sugar was rapidly in
creasinp. In 1920 it was but 2 lbs. per
capita; in 1865, over IA lbs per capita
Since 1865, except in the immediate vicini-
ty of the cities on the seaboard, no sugar
is seen in France except the beet. The same
is true of Germany. Not an ounce of any
other sugar is used in Paris, Vienna, Berlin,
Dresden, Leipsic or Munich.
In 1887 the yield of beets per acre was
10 tons, price $500 per ton; in 1866 the
yield was 16 tons per acre, price, $3.25.-
The percentage of sugar contained in the
beets in 1887 was 10 per cent; in 1865, 11i
per cent The quantity extracted in 1887
was 10000 tons, which was increased in
1865 to 100000 tons of beet sugar. The
cost in 1887 was Z cents per h.; in 1866
the cost was reduced to cents.
Thus it has required nearly half centu-
ry to establish this great and valuable in
dustry on the continent of Europe on such
a basis as to defy competition. 1t has been
the result of. careful and continued atten-
ton to increase the percentage of sugar in
the beet, 10y studying the laws of its nature
and then by the skillful application of
chemical knowledge and mechanical in
genuity to extract it therefrom. purified
and ready for the most fastidious use.
This sketch, while mainly of France, ap-
plies also to the rest of the continent, and
France only led in the race. Such is brief
history of the growth of the industry up
to 1866. Since then, its continued increase
is shown by the following statistics:
Total product of beet sugar in 1858, 200 900 TONS
Total product of beet sugar in 1868, 1852 600 TONS
Total product of beet SUGAR. 1873, $50 900 tons.
1t nav now be considered as one of the
established industries of the temperate
zone, and merely waits the judicious Or
ganization of capital and labor to estab.
fish it on any soil and locality.
IT'S EFFECTS ON AGRICULTURE IN FRANCE.
The effects produced upon agriculture in
France by the cultivation of beet sugar
have been astounding. In the cane-sugar
districts no other crop is to be seen, while
cattle and sheep are few. The beet sugar
districts of Europe, on the contrary, are
crowded with the greatest diversity of
crops-beets, wheat, rye, oats, barley, ETC.,
and all the cultivated grasses; every field
cultivated and the stables filled with cattle,
sheep and horses. No farmer needs to be
told which system is the most enduring
On great public occasion, the following
significant inscription was placed on a
triumphal ARCH Before the manufacture
of beet sugar, the reimbursement of Val.
enciennes produced 695,750 bushels of
wheat, and fattened 700 oxen. Since the
manufacture of beet sugar was introduced,
the ACCOMPLISHMENT of Valenciennes pro.
duces 1,157,750 bushels of wheat and fat
tens II 500 oxen.
The farmers who obtain first prizes at
the agricultural exhibitions are so uniform
ly those engaged in this industry, that they
would be surprised if they did not receive
them. A farm of 832 acres, the sale OF
produce from which, with the ordinary
farming, amounted to $4,000 per annum,
with six years treatment of the beet cul-
ture, produced $41, 200 per annum. An.
other instance. A farm 295 acres produced
5,225 bushels of wheat, $500 tons of beets
and fattened $50 head of cattle per annum
But the model farm of France is one of 552
acres, which has been II years under sugar
beet cultivation and averages 70 bushels OF
oats per acre on 80 acres, 36l bushels OF
wheat on $50 acres, 20 tons of beets pei
acre, tons of hay per acre, and fattens SOC
cattle and 5000 sheep per annum. In 1866
the yield of beets was from 80 to 40 tons
per acre. These farmers attribute theil
success as cultivators entirely to the i'm
mense amount of barn-yard manure, which
the beet pulp fed to the stock enables then
to make, to the improved condition of the
soil, and also to the increased amount o.
profitable culture of the land consequent
upon beet culture; no fallow being requir
ed. Before the introduction of the bee
sugar industry into France, farm hands, by
reason of lack of employment in the wi inter
were so continually emigrating to the city
that Government instituted inquiries to as
certain the cause, and also the best method
of preventing it. Now the tendency o
workmen to seek the capital is not noticed
in the sugar districts, that industry giving
ample and we'll paid employment in th,
winter as well as the summer months
Wherever the beet is cultivated, lands ad
vance in value, and wages take the sam