Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-11-29
NEW FEATURE IN THE SUGAR
TRADE.

The New York TyiJrRe II the 18Th inst.
has the following communication ia reference
10 the sugar trade
The rccerd general enhancement Of the cur.
rent prices Of sugars, ihnugh stimulated and
swellrd by speculation, has a genuine basis. -
Ia the first place, there is an increase ~ seve.
raj per cent. in the population Of the civilized
world within the las, quarter Of a century. in
surng like increase in the natural demand fur
sugar Then It is not doubtful that. in the
general absence of wars, the proportion Of peo-
pie able to purchase and consume sugar and
other luxuries to the extent of their desires,
has likewise increased 1t is further true that
the general manufacture and use OF preserved
fruits, &c, is rapidly Increasing But the
successive failures Of the grape fr several
years past has led to the diversion Of the beet
crop Of France-ahieh is very large and in
poriaai-l,om the production Of sugar TO that
Of brlndy--iho Flcn-h brandies. formerly made
Of the juice Of The grape, bearing a reputation
and price throughout the world which render
this conversion highly profitable. Hence France
which from Napoleon's coronation 10 Louis
Philippe reinforcement had been steadily ad-
vancng toward the point Of producing her own
sugar, has recently been falling rapidly back to
position Of dependence FOR her supply on the
tropical, eane-growing ladies. II is under.
stood that the production Of the sugar 10 the
British West ladies has fallen of since Eman-
eipation- the liberated negroes finding employ
ment more To ihefr taste than the severe labor
Of the cane-feld and ugar-mll-ihough 10
British Guiana the production of sugar has re-
Gently been and is still rapidly Increasing -
California and Australia have had some part in
producing The general resuli--ihose countries
producing little OF no sugar while consuming
largely, aud at the same time increasing the
worlds supply OF bullion, aud thereby enchane-
ing The prices Of nearly everything bui gold
II is clear that the annual production Of SUI
gar must be ncreased-but where AID hnw :
The severe cold Of last winter destroyed a
greai'deal Of cane, and practically diminished
the area Of tropical cane-growing soil. India
and the adjacent regions Of South Asia might
produce more sugar. but their people are very
slow to change the direction Of their industry.
while Those Of Spanish America have little ia
dusiry, Of any sort. There is mora sugar land
in the West Indies, but it is mainly wilderness.
which can only be converted Into cane fields at
heavy cost and by severe labor--of course
quite slowly.
Ia view OF these facts, inquiry has very
properly Seen made for saecharine plants adapt
ed To the temperate zone, and which may b.
probably employed in the production of sugar
Until some plant Of this sort is found and ex.
iensively cultivated, it is not probable that the
price Of sugar, as measured by that of wheat
beef aud other edibies, will be essentially re.
dueed. With the prospect OF an active demand
and high price for sugar through several
years ahead, it seems but reasonable tina, The
sngar-producing area should be enlarged, il
that be found practicable.