It would thus seem that in California, if anywhere, the beet-sugar industry may look forward to a prosperous future; the only possible danger being the open competition of the sugar cane, both at home and abroad, with which, having the advantage of a purer juice, obtained with little trouble and expense, and yielding a merchantable sirup as its by-product, it would seem impossible for the beet to compete. It has done so elsewhere, mainly under the protection of a tariff, or as between the East and the Sandwich Islands), under that of long transportation. While this is true, it is also indisputable that, both in California and in the East, the beet-sugar manufacture has proved remunerative whenever conducted under proper management and good natural conditions; and when the drying process is brought in, enabling the manufacturer to run throughout the year, as against the sugarcane process, which is crowded into a short harvest season almost everywhere (save in the Hawaiian Islands), enabling him also to boil juices even more concentrated than that of the sugar-cane, by the use of the maceration process. The balance of advantage may readily, after all, be found on the side of beet-sugar industry. It seems probable at this time that this question will soon be practically tested, perhaps not only in California, but also further north, the high prices of sugar and their frequent and apparently arbitrary fluctuations having called popular attention strongly to the subject.

REPORT ON THE STANDARD SUGAR REFINERY, ALVARADO,

CALIFORNIA.

BY R. W. FURNAS.

The commission, under special instruction to "particularly investigate. and report the present status, operations, capabilities, actual productions, and future prospects of the Standard Sugar Manufacturing Company,' at Alvarado, Cal.-the operations of this company embracing its means and efforts in raising beets, as well as the results of its manufacture of sugar"-report a visit to the manufactory on October 18, 1881, and found it in charge of Mr. E. H. Dyer, general superintendent, who cheerfully afforded every means for obtaining desired information.

The system in use is known as the "Roberts Diffusion." Operations were first commenced in the year 1870. Over a quarter of a million dollars were sunk or lost before any profits were realized. The original investment was a fraction over $200,000. The present (second hand), $135,000. The working season is from September to February. During that time, 1,239,503 pounds of sugar were made in 1880-'81, as shown by the books of the company. The quality of the product ranks high, and, where it is not known as beet sugar grades with Cuba brands. Sold under its true name, however, it commands a small fraction less, say one eighth to one-fourth of a cent per pound. Eighty hands are employed in the factory proper. Skilled labor is paid $3 to $3.50 per day; the "boiler" $6 per day. Unskilled labor the same as in other industries in the locality. Common laborers, principally Chinese. • In fact," says the superintendent, "we cannot get along without Chinese labor." Experience shows that 16 per cent. saccharine matter in the beet juice will yield 13 per cent. of sugar; 20 per cent. of saccharine matter, 18.9 sugar. The last is considered an extra quality and yield.

The capacity of this factory is 100 tons of raw beets per day; 12,000 tons are worked up during the season. About twenty-four hours are consumed from the time the raw beets enter the washing-machine until the perfect sugar is produced. The company principally contracts with farmers for beets delivered, paying from $4 to $4.50 per ton, as they come from the field, topped. The average yield is 15 tons per acre. Medium-sized beets are preferable in all respects. The most profitable and desirable variety of beet is the White Silesian. The company has 100 acres of its own in beets. Land in this vicinity, suitable for beet culture, is valued as high as $300 per acre. Land rents for $20 per

acre.

The commission, before visiting, was advised that there existed in the public mind a strong suspicion that, even in the management of the Alvarado Factory, there were interests adverse to successful sugar-beet manufacture in the United States, and hence failure was preferable to success. After careful investigation, the commission do not share in such suspicion, as regards this establishment at least, but are of opinion that good faith has been exercised, and everything possible done to

render the enterprise a success; and this, we further believe, has been accomplished. Mr. Dyer has been connected with the effort from the first, is still a party in interest, and quite elated over the final result in securing a prime article of sugar, with fair marginal profit.

That the sugar-bect industry in the United States is now an established fact, your commission entertain no doubt, and think that the importance of encouraging it cannot be overestimated.

The wise policy of France, Germany, and other foreign countries, with natural advantages not superior to ours, has made them exporters of beet sugar.

Without attempting argument on this point, we are free to advise, at least, such aid, both national and State, as will remove any and all obstacles that may stand in the way of successful prosecution of indi vidual efforts now being made or hereafter to be made. We learn a leading existing obstacle to be the inability to utilize all the products of sugar beets-what is known in business parlance as "low products." After investigation, thought, and conviction as to the particular point involved, we cannot more plainly state the case than to use the words of Superintendent Dyer in presenting the matter:

In the manufacture of beet-root sugar, we have a large quantity of molasses that is unfit for domestic use, and can only be utilized profitably by distilling into alcohol. This is done in Europe, and is a source of income.

But in

This alcohol cannot be converted into whisky, as it has an unpleasant taste and odor, and can only be made useful in the arts or for mechanical uses. consequence of the heavy internal-revenue tax, distillers here claim that they cannot afford to pay us but about the cost of cooperage and freight, and we are obliged to run the beet molasses to waste.

In consequence of this we lose an important source of income. In Europe, after the molasses is distilled, the salts remaining are all profitably utilized in the manufacture of different chemicals. We are deprived by this tax of all these sources of income. We ask Congress to grant us relief from this loss, by permitting alcohol to be dis tilled from beet-root molasses and be exempt from paying an internal-revenue tax. Proper safeguards can be devised to prevent fraud. No molasses should be allowed to be distilled until after at least three products of sugar have been extracted. There still remains a large percentage of sugar that is uncrystallizable on account of the salts and other impurities which always remain in the molasses.

In conclusion, the commission join in a desire that Congress aid this great enterprise in such manner and to such an extent as in its wisdom will best secure the interests of the American people, believing that in so doing an industry will be developed second to no other in the United States.

SUGAR CANE AND SORGHUM.

The culture of sugar cane has not, as yet, been carried on on a large scale in California. But numerous experiments on a small scale have shown that it succeeds well and is of good quality in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties. Whenever grown on irrigated ground there can be little doubt that it will also succeed in a large part of the San Joaquin Valley, as, according to Mr. W. H. Sanders's experience, it does in Fresno.

The extension of its cultivation will, I think, depend more upon commercial than climatic considerations; although probably the "bay climate," as well as that of the immediate coast southward, is probably too cool to develop the saccharine juice to perfection.

Not so with the sorghum, which succeeds well from San Diego to Oregon, though probably with great variations as to its sugar percentage. Several varieties of sorghum have for some years past been grown on the experimental grounds of the Agricultural College at Berkeley, and

the results of the assays of some of the samples so grown are given below. In the great valley of California, sorghum has long been grown for forage, to a greater or less extent; but the introduction of varieties specially adapted to sugar making is of comparatively recent date. Assays of Early Amber cane, grown from seed received from the Department of Agriculture at Washington, at Bakersfield, Kern County, and on the Lower Sacramento, are given in the table below. Excellent samples of raw sugar, rudely made from sorghum juice, have also been received from Bakersfield. The samples grown on the Sacramento were intended to be worked into sugar at the Isleton beet-sugar factory, but the result has not transpired.

It is apparent at a glance that the showing for sugar-making purposes is considerably better than the average shown by the experiments made at the Massachusetts Agricultural College, and quite as encouraging as the results obtained in the Western States during the past seasons. Doubtless the climate and soil have a great influence on the absolute and relative amounts of the several kinds of sugar, and actual experiment can alone determine whether or not in any particular region the quality of the juice can be made such as to render sugar making profitable. The fact that the Amber cane juice was of such good quality even in the bay climate, would seem to render it probable that in the warmer climates in the interior much better results could be obtained, as is actually shown by the assay of the Bakersfield samples.

An assay of sugar cane grown and cut late in December serves for convenient comparison both as to sugar percentage and purity.

No. 1.-Amber cane grown on the agricultural grounds of the University of California; cut during the first week in October, 1879, grain being in dough. In 1880 the cold, foggy summer was a drawback to the development of the saccharine juices, and the results have probably been as little favorable as they are ever likely to be.

Samples of sorghum, grown during that season, were received from Bakersfield, Kern County, from Mr. J. W. Brooks, secretary of the Kern County Improvement Association, under whose auspices seed was distributed last spring.

No. 2.-Early Amber, from Bakersfield, was considerably wilted when worked. Received October 5, 1880.

Nos. 3 and 4.-The Imphee and Minnesota Amber canes from Bakersfield were rather wilted, but not so dry as No. 1. Received November 15, 1880.

No. 5.-The Amber from University grounds was worked the same day it was cut, November 16, 1880.

No. 6.-Cuzco corn, grown by Mr. Chabot, of Fruit Vale, near Oakland. Fresh and very succulent. Received in October, 1880.

No. 7.-Grown and sent by Charles A. Wetmore. Received and assayed January 6, 1881.

No. 8.-Grown on Sacramento River, six miles above Rio Vista. Forty-two days' growth; cut on August 5; received and assayed August 12, 1881. It was somewhat dry, as it had been exposed to the air after being cut. Sent by Maximilian Taubles.

No. 9.-Grown at Isleton; planted May 15, 1881; cut August 22; average height of stalk 9 feet 6 inches, and thickness 1 inch. Assayed August 24 (sample from four stalks). Sent by Mr. Taubles.

It appears from the above table that the Early Amber cane, even in the past unfavorable season of 1880, has, in Kern County, attained a sugar percentage almost equal to the average of Louisiana sugar cane. with a very satisfactory purity coefficient, between, seventy-six and sev enty-seven; and even in the cool bay climate, and under the summer fogs of the Golden Gate, it has reached 133 per cent., with an equally good purity coefficient.

The "Dark Early Minnesota Amber" has rather too low a purity co efficient for sugar making, at least at the time when tested. It seemed a little past the best condition.

The Imphee is very far inferior to the Early Amber, and, as the sample stood, would not even have made very good sirup.

The stalk of the Cuzco corn, though having a somewhat higher purity -coefficient than the Imphee and Dark Amber, would also serve for sirup only; and considering its low percentage in the juice, and smaller production on the same area, there can be no reason to prefer it to the Amber cane. The latter seems, therefore, decidely the crop to select for sugar, making, unless, indeed, the true sugar cane should yield a much better result than there is reason to anticipate, considering experience in the Southern United States. The rapid growth and early maturity of the Early Amber alone recommend it highly, as against the tardy maturity, and frequent damage from frost that proverbially render the culture of the true sugar cane in Louisiana a matter of thirteen month's work, and very liable to accident.

The continued interest in the subject of sugar production at home, as well as the desire for a greater diversification of crops, has induced numerous experiments in the growing of sugar-producing plants during the past few seasons. This has especially been the case in the Upper San Joaquin Valley, Kern, Tulare, and Fresno Counties.

SUGAR FROM WATERMELONS.

The practicability of manufacturing sugar from melons has often been discussed, and varying opinions on the subject have been put forth. based, doubtless, upon the varying results obtained in different climates and soils. Both watermelons and muskmelons have been actually used