Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-01-10
Ggs Ueruont 4genif.
BRATTLEBoRo. VT.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 1867.
Notes on Sugar.

The present high prices which all grades OF SUI
gars readily command, is matter Of serious inter-
est to every family. For several years this staple
has been obtained SO cheaply that il has entered
into the daily consumption Of every household
but at present rates many will have to icrcgo IT'S
use entirely or curtail II to an nconven'ent extent
Tho most serious consideration in connection with
this subject, is the probability Of continuance of
existing prices. There is no sort Of prospect o.
decline for a long time.
The consumption Of sugar has greatly increas-
ed during the past ten or dozen years, while It's
production has not kept pace in an equal ratio
Not only in families is this increased consumption
visible but sugar has been largely used in the
manufacture Of preserves aud condiments. Mo-
asses. also, has been diverted from ordinary cham
nels, and been consumed in great quantities in the
manufacture Of alcohol for domestic use and for
expectation. The production Of sugar in the cane
growing districts Of the Southern States has suffer-
ed a great diminution. Probably not more than
one-thrd as much of this staple was made from
the same cultivation in Louisiana last year MS was
produced three or four years since. The cane has
suffered blight so fatal that government has re-
sorted to the extraordinary step of sending ship
abroad to obtain new supply of cane cuttings for
the southern plantations.
Aside from the production Of sugar in Louisiana
our great dependence for this important article is
upon the island Of Cuba. But there the sugar
pays an export duty, while upon its admission in.
to our ports it is subjected to an additional imPos
of 80 per cent. To remedy present difficulties
and to cheaper sugar to the consumer, it has beer
proposed to remove this duty and admit foreign SUI
CARS free. 1t is doubtful il such measure can b.
carried through Congress, although we can con
ceive no valid reason why nine-tenths OF the IN
habitants Of the United States should be taxed Il
support few planters, and give them monopol,
in an article which can never be produced in sufi
Gent quantities for home consumption. The terri
tory in this country suitable to cane-growing, i
quite limited. Outside Of Louisiana. and SOM
portions Of Texas, cane sugar cannot be manuiac
tured in any considerable quantities.
Under these circumstances, 1t becomes importan
to inquire if sugar cannot be probably produce
/ faom other sources besides the sugar-cane. II
1855, the Patent Office Department obtained som
seeds Of the Chinese sugar-cane, (sorghum sac
charatum) and distributed them among agricutu
rists Ia all parts of the country. From the Repor
Of that office for 1855, and from other sources w
arc enabled to collect sufficient data TO show 1t i
probable that this cane can be raised in all tn
corn-growing districts of the United States. Ex
ccllent syrup and sugar can be produced from thi
cane. Whether or not it will prove more prOfita
bic than corn, is the question to be settled. Tn
warmer the climate the better is the maturity o
this sugar millet, and consequently the more su
gar can be made from given amount of cane.
But the formers of Vermont need not be depend
ent upon any of these scources for their supply 0
sugar. We have growing on our hills forests 0
the sugar maple that are capable Of producing al
abundance Of the most dclicately favored articl
in the world. For several years the reduced price
ofother sugars added TO the increased wages pai'
for labor, have rendered its manufacture not re
muneratiye. Hence the amount made, compares
with that of former years, has very sensibly di
minished. With the present high prices Of foreigl
sugars we sec no reason why this branch of GU
agriculture should not receive attention. In 1851
the amount Of maple sugar made in this state wa
6,349, 1857 pounds, being On average of more thai
twenty pounds to each inhabitant. With it'll
.Trtf'. .aI ..l'I ir materially increased
t.ls .,-.,A.us tue present rates, oal saving to tA
t'-sH-I~ 10 eight Goats pc