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; BEET SUGAR AND WORLD’S PRODUCTION. 09
Molasses sugar.—Beet molasses contains about 50 per cent sucrose,
10 per cent ash, and 20 per cent organic nonsucrose. The presence of
the mineral matter, especially potassium in organic combination, pre-
vents the sucrose from crystallizing, and thus the ordinary processes
of clarifying can not be used Many processes have been employed
in extracting this sugar. Molasses sugar may be extracted in the
same factories producing first sugar or in specialized molasses sugar
factories. Cane and beet sugar factories remelt the molasses sugar
with the unclarified juice producing ‘firsts’ or work it up separately
as ‘‘seconds.”
Great interest has been taken from the beginning in the improve-
ment of the sugar content and quality of the beet by experi-
mentation. By the study of its habits and needs and by process of
selection the beet has been improved from a sugar content of 5 or 6
per cent, when the industry started at the beginning of the nineteenth
century, to a sugar content of from 15 to 20 per cent. However, it
is possible to raise beets of maximum sugar content and purity coeffi-
cient only under certain climatic and soil conditions which have been
fairly well determined.
BEET SUGAR ZONE IN THE UNITED STATES.
The United States Department of Agriculture, by experiments con-
ducted all over the country, has found that in the United States the
sugar beet attains the greatest perfection in a zone of varying width
(about 200 miles) through the center of which passes the isothermal
line of 70° F. for the months of June, July, and August. South of
this zone healthy beets of large size can be grown but, it appears, the
sucrose content is too low; north of it the season is too short to insure
full maturation of the beet. The climatic requirements of the beet
are long summer days and a certain amouns of moisture at the proper
stage of its development. Beets of the best quality are raised in some
of the western { tates by irrigation, the moisture being supplied at the
most advantageous stages of their growth.
ACREAGE, EUROPE AND UNITED STATES.
The data showing the comparative results obtained in the beet-
sugar industry in different ccuntries have been divided into three
sections, as follows: (1) Average production of beets per acre; (2)
average percentage extraction of sugar based on the weight of the
beet: and (3) average production of sugar per acre. Tables covering _
a period of 10 years, 1900 to 1910, are presented showing the average
results obtained in Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Russia, Bel-
gium, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and different States of, as
well as the general averages for the United “tates. Two tables follow
