, 1913-02-26

canes lIlaG were I6dpOu Lux L"HNSi Wv -
neraIly backward, containing more OF foliage
than Of cane, and t e weather that could
bring them up to a satisfactory condition
would have an adverse influence on the
greater portion of the crop. The canes of
the lower levels are green, stOnt and vlgo-
r0us; but they contain too mucn new growth
to give them saccharose within the next two
or three months.
Syrup is being made at a few places ON
the hills. The need of fodder for the ami
mails, and the wish to get land for planting
potatoes and early yams have induced plant
ers to take off field or two of their ripest
rutoons. Reports of the results of these
first trials are satisfactory. The juice, sink
ing 900 in one place and 100 . in anoth-
er, and giving in the first instance 81 pun
cheons and in the other 3 puncheons to the
acre, is better than what we had reason to
expect at this date, and after such wet Wea-
Their.
We do not think that any sugar has been
made vet. It is not likely that much ordlne-
ry muscovado will be made, unless the rela-
tive prices for sugar and for syrup should
change considerably. Offers have been made
for syrup at 16 cents per gallon With S4 per
package, and for sugar of $3.50 at Sl.oO
per q Tbs.
Inc luCbOiI6S dt6 DuSIluS VI NoiN hAA
improvements and Will probably be all ready
for work by the time the canes are ripe. 1t
even the present fair and windy weather CON
tinue, it is not likely that s~ugar-making will
be commenced generally before the LIST of
March. Some who have hitherto been sup
pOrters of the factories IN their districts are
indisposed to continue their support to the
same extent as formerly. They are of OPT
MON that the price paid per ton for canes has
not been always in fair proportion to the
market value Of crystal sugar. They have
expressed the opinion that they would have
obtained a better pecuniary result than they
did last year, if they had supported the sy-
rup market instead of the central factories.
We are not in a position to Judge whether
this opinion held by q good many is we'll
founded or otherwise.
At Olive Branch, which passed into the
hands of q new owner last year, the works
that bad been demolished are being set III
order again with slight Improvements, and
centrifugal sugar Will be made again this
year.
The departure of several hundred labour-
ers for the Canal Zone during the past week
will probably affect the supply of hands dur
ing the reaping of the crop. AS, however,
the crop will be a short one, the absence of
I0GS0 VIII not % lSll as IL Oulu W III O'h0h
years. It will be wise, at the same time, If
prudence and patience be observed from the
outset in dealing with those who may be &C
cepted for employment.
In America, the prospect that the question
of Tariff Reform will be taken up by the
new Government induces refiners to be
cautious in purchasing sugar at the present
time beyond what is necessary for lmmedl-
ate use. The delivery Of the beet crop grown
in the United States also contributes to the
depressed condition OF the New York market.
Then the large Cuban crop is being reaped,
and deliveries commenced with the New
Year. A month ago, muscovado was bring
ing S3 ~ and crystals 1892; this week, they
are, respectively, 1926 and So 45. Cuban
sugar, SO degrees, on it's way to Great Bri-
tain, was sold in London two weeks ago at
1915 per cwt. European beet is being lush
ed on London in large quantities to the
weakening of the market.
AS we have remarked in former reports,
the one encouraging feature in the present
outlook is that low prices will tend to the in
crease of the consumption of sugar. 1t is
shown that during 1912, Notwithstanding
the fact that prices were abnormally high,
the amount of sugar consumed in Great Bril-
tain was l, 652,400 tons, as against 1,663,688
-, AIzL 18th kIo~~ G1u1rrn