The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-10-06
BEET So OR.


Berlin Academy of Sciences, of which
ne was member, that he had diecov-
cred method Of producing sugar from
the beet, expressing the belief that
great practical benefits would follow
from 1t and that Europe would find in
that root the basis of an immense in
dustTy. The Academy received the
announcement with incredulous sur
prise. Being poor and without the aid
OF Commercial or political influence,
his discovery slept in undisturbed re
pose for half a century.
In 1872, Achard, pupil of Marggraf,
| announced to the Berlin Academy the
results Of his own improvements in the
methods of producing sugar from beets.
Baron DeKoppy, attracted by Achard's
discoveries, devoted one of his estates
in Lower Silesia to the culture of beete,
and erecting in 1905 factory for the
manufacture of beet sugar, placed both
estate and factory under the control of
Achard. So great was Achard's con
tidence that he built factory on his
own estate at Cunera, and on his own
account embarked iU the culture Of the
beet as we'll as in the manufacture OF
sugar.
William I, Kingof Prussia, exempted
from taxation lands devoted to the cul-
ture Cf beets and factories used in max
ing sugar.
In 1873. AchaTd called the attention
Of the Institute of France at Paris to
his discovery, and it was received with
great satisfaction. This lead to the in
PRODUCTION of this new industry into
France.
In the North American Review for
September, Mr.. E Sewers shows the
growth Of this industry in Europe.
In 1879 80, France produced 4 $50
tons; in 1885 80. 75O. 900 tens. In 1880,
the consumption Of eetsugar in France
was two pounds per capita; in 1890,
twenty six pounds
In 1910, Germany produced 13 AIS
tons Of sugar and 8, 955 tons of molasses
from beete; in 1890, 213, $50 tons of
sugar and 24O, 797 tons of moIasses from
beets.
In 1890, the people of the United
States paid to the manufacturers Of
Germany SIC, 600, coo for about 200, 600
tons of beet sugar imported into the
United States. The production of beet
suger in the United States in 1898 was
"A, ,S36 527 pounds.
The United States spends ennual ally
about $185, 600, 900 for sugar, Of which
more than eight-tentbs goes to foreign
countries. We consume one fourth Of
the e. ported sugar product of the
world.
The annual consumption of sugar
per capita in England is sixty pounds; {;
in France and Switzerland, twenty six
pounds; in Germany, eighteen pounds;
IN the United States, forty four pounds.
These facts are very suggestive and
should stimulate the farmers of the
United States to make beet culture q
prominent industry.
If France, Germany and Austria can
obtain from beets grown on their own
lands and made by their own manufac
turers their supply OF sugar for domes
tic purposes, and have left beside three
fourtks OF a million tons for annual
expectation to foreign countries, why
should not the farmers and mRnufac-
turers Of the United States grow the
0eets and make the sugar nee ded for
domestic uses, and so save for all the
wages and profits incident to such an
industry9 The natural conditions in
the Uaited States are as favorable for
this object as they are in France, Ger
many and Austria; hence there is no
reason in the nature of things why this
industry should not fl ,urish here, nor
why this large annual expenditure for
the foreign product be saved to assist
in further diversifying our industries
and increasing our wealth.-Southern
Cultivator.
FARMERS WAGES.