Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/106

84 but it is also of vast importance to agriculture, consuming as it does large quantities of the produce and also providing food for the cattle.

With the increasing areas of beet and potatoes under cultivation during the latter part of the last century, many distilleries were erected on farmes and agricultural estates, as well as on purely industrial basis, and to-day they form a mighty industry equipped with the most modern technical appliancies and methods of producing spirit.

There were in the year 1901 220 agricultural and 14 industrial distilleries working in Bohemia, and 1180 agricultural and 36 industrial in the whole of Austria.

In the campaign of 1902–3 the number of distilleries in Bohemia increased to 245, with a production of 8,822.000 gallons, the total number of distilleries in Austria being 1257 and the production of spirit 30,435.812 gallons.

MACHINE INDUSTRY

The machine industry is one of the most developed in Bohemia, for, owing to local conditions, agricultural machinery and implements, also machinery for the sugar-industry, breweries, manufacture of spirits etc. are in great demand.

MACHINERIES FOR SUGARWORKS.

The erection of a large number of sugar works in Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia at the end of the sixth decade of the last century caused a large demand for machinery, which could not be met by the existing machine factories, in consequence of which new factories arose, the founders of which hoped to find ample employment and prosperity greatly aided by the flourishing condition of the sugar-industry. Aided by local experiences an export-business was created, which led to important contracts for delivery of complete sugar works for Italy, Sweden, Russia, South America, Canada and British India. In fitting up sugar works the Bohemian machine industry achieved brillant results, enjoys the best reputation