, 1874-05-13
COLONIAL.

The manufacturing of a fine quality of sugar
forms one Of the leading topics of the day in
considering the advancing interest of the ST.
gar making colonies. The quality of sugar
which is desirable so as to enable the produc-
ton of the cane growing colonies to compete
with ;he quality Of sugar so largely manufac-
tured from the beet root, must possess two es-
sential characteristics it must be Incapable
Of diminution in weight from drainage during
the voyage to the country of its storage for
consumption and of depreciation in other re-
spectS (Which is the case with sugar produced
under the old manufacturing process) while
being kept in bond for sale or transmission.
The Tinidad Chronicle. in an article quoted
from the Produce Market Review, demonstrates
this necessity very clearly, and illustrates by
q fair and perfectly admissible calculation,
based upon chemical researches and expert
ence on this subject, the immense benefit which
must inevitably result to the manufacturer Of
sugar from the cane plant. Taking Barbados
as an example the calculation is demonstrated
in words to the following "Phe exports from
Barbados may be estimated as 40, 900 tons in
round figures. If this quality lose 124 per
cent. in drainage on the voyage, the weight
is reduced TO IS, 1000 tons, worth, at an average,
22s. Cd. in bond G7S7,500. If improved ma
chinery were used and Crystailized Sugar
made. ii may fairly be assumed Gas the chemist
says that G6 per cent. of what is in the cane is
thrown away which proportion, it is to be fear
ed, is oyerrated-that 123 per cent. more SUI
gar would be produced, which would bring the
crop up to $4,000 tons, all of which would
reach EngIand"-or any other destination
and be worth in bond at present value 26s.
per cWt., or gI,170,O0O, a gain of 8382,000 or
say A. per cent. on the sum now realized.
From this would have to be deducted the ex-
ira cost of making the fine Sugar, which is
said to be about sos. per ton or ef67, 500 on
$4,000 tons; but on the other hand, the in
crease in tie yield would more probably
be 10000 tons than the 5000 tons at which
il has been taken. 1t is not surprising, there
fore to notice the advance which is being made
in this direction in the West Indies, and the
wonder is that splf-evident reforms have been
so long deferred. The Barbados planters
who have hitherto refused to give up the old
fashioned way of making Sugar, and who have
rejected all advice to the contrary, are at last
beginning to see their mistake, and the re-
QuiSite machinery for making good Sugar has
been introduced into many of the principal
estates. From the last Report of the Barba-
dos Agricultural Society it has been ascertain
ed that Of the 494 Sugar estates of all sizes
in the Island, steam Machinery is now employ
ed on 80, tWo-ifthS Of which have adopted
steam within the last three years on one
estate a plant has been erected capable Of
making 100 tons Of vacuum-pan sugar weekly.
This is so far highly satisfactory, but is not a
subject for much congratulatiOn to the Island,
as ii may be inferred that the remaining seven
eighths Of the estates are worked by windmills
and other antiquated processes, which are,
compared to modern machinery, as bows and
arrows to Armstrong guns. The quantity of
Sugar hitherto wasted which will be saved by
the general adoption of a proper method of
manufacture will be something enormous, and
will probably augment the total weight re-
ceived in England by about 25 per cent. 1t
will be seen that this computation is by no
means extravagant, if the large quantity of
Molasses which results from the old process,
and the loss by drainage, be taken into consi-
Iteration. 1t is very probable that the dimin-
ished demand for Molasses both in England
and America has had much to do with this
determination to make fine Sugar, for without
an outlet for that product it is hardly possible
that the old method could be proftably ear
ried on. The supply of Crystallized Sugars
is now unusually large, but as at present
prices they are going freely into consumption,
there is every prospect that increased supplies
would lead to their general adoption by the
0rnfeTS"