Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-06
VIIi.-SUCAR.
Additionally
BY SAMUEL B. HARDING. PHI. D.


is wholly a tropical product. the pro-
duct of the sugar cane. a plant that
natures only in warm climates. It's
production is associated with such
countries as Cuba, Java the Hawaiian
Islands, the Philippine islands. Louis
lana, etc. And yet one-half, perhaps
two-thirds, of all the sugar used in the
world is produced in countries that lie
in ATTITUDES north of the EXTREMIST
northern latitude of the United States
The plant from which the sugar of
these northern regions is made is the
sugar beet. The sugar beet does not diff
fer botanically from other beets. 1t is
simply the common beet of our gardens,
which every one knows is more or less
sweet, perfected by selection and favor
ing cultivation into n sugar producer
that for some fifteen ye-rs or more has
equaled the sugar cane In its cOntribu
ton 10 the worlds sugar production,
In the ratio of about 8 TO 3.
And yet II is not yet three quarters
of century that the making of sugar
from beets has been n commercial sue
cess. 1t was in the year 1747 that Prof
MarSgraf of Berlin first announced
that he had been able ito find beet-root
sugar in abundance exactly like that
extracted from the sugar cane" But
the man to whom the world owes the
invention of the processes by which the
making of sugar from beet roots be-
came commercially possible was Marg-
gratis pupil and successor. Prof Franz
Carl Achard. Achard built his first
beet sugar factory as early as 1901. But
though he received considerable help
from the king of Prussia, and was able
ny his scientific attachments and his
practical experience to be of much
service to the world In the spreading
abroad of knowledge of bcet-sugar
making, his own efforts at establishing
a profitable business were unsuccessful.
and when he died US21) the industry
was still in its struggle for existence.
1t was q Frenchman named Craspel De-
lisse pupil of Achard's. who was the
first to reap reward from those many
early years of experimental efforts and
investment. BY 1928 Dellsse was the
owner of three factories In Franco all
of them successful, and the part owner
or several others. Thenceforward De-
lisse was the great authority in all mat
terS relating 10 beet-sugar making and
to the end OF his life he was 1.-The hon
est adviser and instructor of those who
sought information from the store of
his experience" These three men, there
fore, Marggraf, Achard and Delisse.
are the founders OF that industry OF
modern continental Europe which is
most peculiar to 1t and most character
istically the development of it's scion
tific spirit. For undoubtedly beet-root
sugar is the gift OF European science to
the worlds manufacture and commerce.
By 1887 France had 6S5 factories de-
voted to beet-SuGar making. with an
annual production of Ito. 900, 900 pounds,
and the government determined to sub
1ect the industry to taxation. Ger
many at that time had only 156 fac
tories. but by 1871 In Germany also the
industry had so deyeloDed that the gov
eminent determined to subject II to
taxation. Since that time in Germany,
Notwithstanding the fact that sugar
has always been an object OF special
taxation. beetsugar making has dou-
bled with every decade. In France the
industry has also been prosperous. but
not perhaps to the Same extent as in
Germany. From Germany and France
the Industry has extended to almost
every other country I'm northern CONT
mental Europe especially Austria Hun
gary. Russia. Belgium and Holland.
To-day Germany has 400 factories with
an average product per factory of
nearly 100000 hounds per annum.
France has over $50 factories, with an
average product of considerably over
100000 pounds per annum Austria
Hungary has considerably over 200 fac
tories. with an average product of over
100000 pounds per annum. Russia has
nearly 300 factories. with an avera ge
product Of nearly 6.250,06O pounds per
annum.
Taking as basis the actual produc-
ton for the years 1866, 1867 and
1878. and the estimated production for
the year 1889. and the average OF
these four years. the present produc.
ton OF beet sugar in Euronean coun-
tries may be put down as follows: