1830.] The Sugar Cane. 93 



various improvements discussed and pointed out. Molasses, scummings 

 from the clarifiers and evaporating coppers, and sometimes even raw 

 cane juice, purposely expressed, are the matters subjected for distilla- 

 tion ; these must be diluted with water ; the lees or feculencies of 

 former distillations are likewise added to supply the necessary ferment 

 or yeast. When the fermentation has proceeded favourably, it will 

 generally be completed in from five to seven days ; the liquor is then 

 conveyed to the still. Cleanliness is as necessary in this process as in 

 that for producing good sugar. It is usual to obtain about one hundred 

 and thirteen gallons of proof rum from twelve hundred gallons of wash. 

 The relative proportion which the rum, produced on an estate, bears to 

 sugar, varies much according to circumstances, but may be averaged at 

 about 200 gallons of rum to three hogsheads of sugar, each 16 cwt. 

 Considerable improvements in the apparatus used for distillation have of 

 late years been introduced, with the view of obtaining a strong spirit at 

 as little expense of fuel and labour as possible. Of two stills which 

 have been generally considered great improvements in this way, we 

 prefer that of Mr. Corty (or Shears and Sons), on account of the greater 

 simplicity of its construction. The other, viz. that which has been 

 patented by Mr. Winter, is, perhaps, capable of yielding a more concen* 

 trated spirit, but we fear there are few proprietors who have servants 

 sufficiently careful to ensure its efficiency during successive years. 



We would observe, in conclusion, that every thing tending to improve 

 the quality of the produce of West India estates and supersede manual 

 labour, is yearly becoming of greater importance to the planter. The 

 unequal manner in which the very high duty on sugar falls upon inferior 

 kinds : the great change which has, since the abolition of the slave trade, 

 taken place in the efficiency of the labourers on West-India estates, and 

 the unequal competition which he is now obliged to sustain with 

 foreigners, can only be carried on by superior science, capital, and 

 machinery. 



The work before us contains such valuable scientific and practical 

 information on these subjects, that we have no doubt it will find a 

 place in the library of every planter and person connected with our 

 sugar colonies. 



' Jjrrsnr/t-- mim 



sd !.- 



NOTES OF THE MONTH ON AFFAIRS IN GENERAL. 

 ?JJW > m ; 'pJW 



" Pensions to Ministers, Privy Counsellors, fyc. Sir J. Graham rose, 

 pursuant to notice of motion, to move for an ' Account of all salaries, 

 pay, fees, and emoluments, whether civil or military, from the 5th of 

 January 1829, to the 5th of January 1830, held and enjoyed by each of 

 the members of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, specifying 

 with each name the total amount received by each individual, and dis- 

 tinguishing the various services from which the same is derived." In 

 the course of his speech Sir James Graham said that the total number of 

 Privy Counsellors was 169; of whom 113 received public money. 

 (Hear, hear.) The whole sum distributed annually amongst these 113 

 was 650, 164/. and the average proportion of that sum paid to each yearly, 

 was 5,752/ (Hear.) Of this total of 650J64/. 86,103/. were for sine- 

 cures (loud cries of " hear, hear"); 442,41 1/, for active services, and 

 121,650/. for pensions, making together the total which he had stated. 



