Sugar beet industry for Central?

IT is understood that a proposition is on foot in Dunedin for the establishment of the beetroot sugar industry in Central Otago. The high price at which sugar is likely to remain for many years to come justifies the belief that there is a great opening for this industry in Otago. About half the world’s commercial sugar crop in normal times is derived from beet sugar. Large quantities of sugar beet are grown in the north of France, Germany, Belgium and Holland and also in some parts of the United States. It is considered that the

climatic conditions of Central Otago are ideal for beetroot growing — warm sun during the summer time and a cold, severe winter. The sugar beet is one of the crop plants known as biennials, taking two years before it flowers or fruits. It is propagated by seed, and in its first year produces above ground only leaves, which elaborate large quantities of food reserve, which is stored up underground in the large, fleshy root in the form of sugar. The manufacture of beetroot into sugar is provided for by speciallydesigned machinery, which pulps the roots, extracts the sugar, purifies the juice, and finally, after boiling, separates the sugar crystals from the treacle. Beet sugar manufacture ought to be a very profitable industry in Central Otago, for there is not only the sugar itself, from which a profit may be derived, but also very considerable value is attached the byproducts, one of which is that of alcohol for industrial purposes, which is obtained by

distillation from the beet sugar molasses. The Otago Expansion League is carrying out investigations into the whole proposition, and it is anticipated that at an early date the matter may be put before the public as a commercial proposition, affording a very remunerative return upon capital investment.