Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1859-01-15
No. 81

cent, equal to 1900 pounds of sugar This is
worth, IN France, l2S francs per 100 kilogrammes,
against ll8 francs per 100 kilOgrammes for colon
la, difference of is per cent in favor of beet-root
sugar over and above the cost of transportation
and ocean freight. 1t has been the case, however,
that the production of cane sugar has greatly pro-
gressed in the last few years in some localities.
TINS has been the case more particularly in the
Maurltlus, IN the Philippine Islands, and in the
French Island of Bourbon. In the aforementioned
place the crops had doubled in ten years under the
joint influence of Improvements in manufacture,
increase of labOrers, and the use of guano and
some 300 sugar estates are now cultivated. The
number of Coolies is l42, ,534, and about $4,000
tons of guanO are used per annum, and the product
OF sugar is limited by the number of hands that
can be obtained. In the present year we have ad-
vices to the lst of August. The weather was fine,
and the crops had commenced on several of the es-
tates. The sugar crop is expected to reach l2O,-
600 TONS the largest ever made. Immigrants had
arrived in large numbers. and food, notWithstand-
ing its reported scarcity in India had been receiv
ed in considerable quantity.
The French islands are better situated in that
respect, and the sugar product increases rapidly.
With cane sugar the great difficulty is want of
hands, as well in Cuba as in the Brazils and IN
eastern countries The undoubted growing de-
mand for sugar is checked by that want and its
beet sugar, the other hand, no such restriction
is felt. 1t has now become fixed culture in
northern and middle Europe. 1t maintains itself
only unassisted but in face of restriction and
appears to be of u more certain crop than cane IN
Some quarters.
The cultivation of sorgho was extensively enter
ed into in France, but its ability TO yield sugar
has not answered the expectation entertained OF 1t.
It has been discovered, however, that it will yield
alcohol nearly 80 per cent cheaper than beet-roOt.
1t has followed that numbers OF beetrOOt factories,
particularly in the north of France, have abandon
ed distillation and resumed sugar making.
The consumption of sugar in Europe is suscepti-
BILE of great extension with the amellOratlon OF the
condition of the people. Thus, in France, 1t is
estimated that 20 eco 600 persons do not even now
use sugar. In the interior of Europe the numbers
are also large, and, with the cheapening value Of
sugar, while the general welfare of the people i'm
proves, the demand for sugar increases far faster
than the labor-restrained culture of the cane can
supply. Science is also busy, and 1t Is asserted
the chemists, VI. Braconnet, of Nancy, among
others, has succeeded in transmitting certain
woods, straw, hemp. and fax, by the use of con-
eentr4ted sulphuri6 acid, into the description of
sugar called glucose, pound tor pound 1t Is not
probable, however. that immediate important re-
suits will hOw from this process.
The markets have fuctuated largely in the last
few years. The crops of 1858, IN Louisiana, al
though produced from q diminished number OF
plantations, turned out to be very large, reaching
449 ,324 hogsheads. As a consequence, prices
were very low, assisted by a financial pressure,
which diminished the consumption Of sugar, par
tieulary refined. This discouraged many planters,
who turned their attention to cotton. In the fol-
lowing year the consumption OF sugar was every
where enhanced, as well by increasing population
as the disease in the vines in Europe, causing the
Iow-priced sugars to be distilled. The result was
a considerable rise in prices, which was aided by
the decline in the crop of Louisiana. This deficit
counteracted the diminutiOn in supply, which
might have been looked for from high prices.
Those high prices, however, stimulated production,
but further serious decline took place in the do
nestle cane. The low prices of 1854 had reduced
the number of sugar-hOuses from ,4Sl to ,299,
as stated by NJ. ChampOmier and, at the same
time, the agitation of reduction of duty added to
the discouragement of planters. Efforts were
made by Congress to introduce new cane cuttings,
and great hopes were excited by the promise Of
.s sorghum, or Chinese sugar cane. Neverthe-
less, the Louisiana sugar crop fell to the small
figure of 80 900 tOns causing an immense demand
for the foreign article, and inducing the import of
a new article % melado,' of which about 10000
hogsheads were imported, equal to % 400 tons of
sugar. The operation was not supposed to be
successful. As far as sugar-making goes, ''sOrg-
hum " is failure although in France, alcohol
is extracted from it much cheaper than from beet
roots and the distillation of the latter has been
stopped The " sorghum - may serve to prevent
cane from being distilled occasion of the failure
of the vines, but will not supply much sugar di-
reetly. The high prices of sugar stimulated the
production of maple sugar to an unprecedented ex-
tent, and the crop was more than double that of
any former one.
If we now compare the consumption of France,
Great Britain. and the United States, we have
suits as follows -
9rer11e