, 1894-01-31

hAO dIdnuOuCO.
There are at present 70 estates in the colony
on which sugar is manufactured. The largest
area under cane cultivation on any one estate
is 1924 ceres. and the smallest &c acres.
There are three estates with over 1900 and
under 3 1000 acres; six with over ! 800 and
under 1000 acres twenty-five with over
1000 and under 1900 acres and twenty
with less than GOO acres in cane cultivation.
During the year the following sugaY estates
were abandoned, viz: Pins. Greenfield on
The East Coast and Blenheim in Leguan. The
following amalgamations were effected Pin.
Vive-la-Force, West Bank, with Nriesland
Pin. Stewartville, West Coast, with Leonora;
and Pin. Ma Retralte, Berbice River with Mara.
Considerable difficulty was experienced
throughout the year on account of The in
sufficient supply of labour available for the
sugar estates. Very high rates of wages were
paid for nearly oil kinds Of work. Cane
cutters were in great demand during the
heavy grinding season in the end Of the year,
ana a good cane cutter could IN E days
steady labour easily earn $40. The cost of
cane cutting has been about 81 .0Cper ton OF
sugar made, higher than the average OF the
past few years. East Indian Immigrants
equal to 5 1850 statute adults are expected to
arrive in the colony. during the current season.
During the season 1892 SO, East Indian I'M
AuiSIdIlbo tuudl W 1,ftA etdbuiC doNAuS $1,000
and were allotted to estates. A largely in
creased immigration is required to meet the
demand and necessity for labenr which now
exists. The sugar estates especially feel the
want of sufficient reliable labOur at moderate
rates but the gold industry is also likely to
be hampered for want of suitable labourers.
No special or extensive improvements bav0
been carried out with regard to sugar manu-
faoture during 1898. The important question
of economy in fuel consumption has received
further attention, and fur aces Of new and
improved designs have been erected for burn
ing green megass with the object Of getting
this fuel to generate in boilers oil the steam
required in factories The system Of double
crushing has been further extended and
mills for this purpose were erected on Men
RepOs, La Grange, Windsor Forest, Uitvlugt,
Tukchen de Vrienden, Golden Fleece, and
Perseverance Multiple evaporators have been
erected on Anna Regina. Success (Leguan),
and Ogle. A new evaporating plant is on
order for Pin. Ruimveldt a triple effet fol-
Marionville and it is proposed to erect a
triple effet at Maryville, and a diffusion plant
at De Kinderen. There are II vacuum pan
estates not yet provided With multiple
evaporators. Muscovado sugar is still man
utactured on 4 estates, but the annual output
of this class Of produce cannot be more than
aOOut 1,OOO lOllS
The proprietors of sugar estates have during
recent years invested large sums in improved
modern machinery and appliances. By so
doing they have prevented the colony dlsap-
pearing altogether from the list of sugar
producing countries, ana have shewn their.
confidence in the future Of the industry.
Since 1883, the worlds production of sugar
has increased from 1000. UQ0t to 5000, 900 tons.
There has been no increase in the production
of this colony in fact, the exports of 10 years
ago have not been maintained. The industry
is having a hard struggle to keep alive, and it
has to contend against many difficulties.
The cane cultivation suffers from abnormal
seasons, periods of excessive rainfall, and
protracted drought. The tillage of the land
on account Of the system of open drainage
which has to be adopted, is most expensive.
and the yield of sugar obtained does not
average more than II tons lst sugar per
acre. The want of labour and consequent
inability of the planter to get tillage done
when most desirable, also tells against estates.
The heavy burden of immigration %crippIes
the industry not only from the cost of irtro-
ducing the immigrants, but on account Of the
expense of cottages, hospitals, medicines, !,
food, implements, eto. The cost.of excepting
mp sea dams. back dams. kokers, and PUBIC
roads, etc., is also a heayy charge on estates.
1t is only by judieious management, strict