THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



January 16, 1904. 



' As has already been stated, it was found possible 

 to obtain in New York and elsewhei-e valuable 

 information which is summarized in a handy form in 

 the pamphlet referred to for the use of planters and 

 ■others interested in the matter. 



A careful perusal of the report will indicate the 

 lines upon which an improvement in the quality of 

 Barbados molasses might be made. The exports of 

 molasses from Barbados during the past three years 

 have been as follows : 1901, 4(j,04-3 puncheons, valued 

 at £143,884 ; 1902, 42,760 puncheons, valued at £119, 

 728; and 1903, 30,177 puncheons, valueil at £105,30.3. 



Barbados molasses, it was ascertained, would 

 appear to correspond with the intermediate grade of 

 Porto Rico molasses, known as ' Choice', although the 

 latter is of a decidedly better colour. Porto Rico 

 ' Fancy,' which is the highest grade, realized in New 

 York last year 7c. per gallon more than the Barbados 

 article. Nearly all of the ' Fancy' molasses is used in 

 the eastern part of the United States, none going to 

 Canada : on the other hand, Porto Rico ' Choice ' and 

 Barbados molasses nearly all go to Canada. 



In the matter of packages, it was ascertaine<l that 

 the hogsheads and puncheons are in some cases smaller 

 and nearly always of a better quality than those used 

 in Barbados. There appears to be a tendency for 

 buyers of molasses to i)refer barrels to hogsheads and 

 puncheons for the reason that the latter when empty 

 are practically unsaleable. It would be well if 

 shippers were to note these points as well as the 

 objection made to the method of fastening the Barba- 

 dos hogsheads. Here the ends of the wooden hoops on 

 the puncheons are placed together and wound with 

 rope-yarn ; in Porto Rico the hoops are locked. The 

 Barbados fastening (k)es not appear to be sufficiently 

 strong: the plan of locking the hoops might perhaps be 

 .substituted. 



It is evident that suljihuring the cane juice and 

 also the packages would be advantageous both in 

 giving a better colour to the molasses and in prevent- 

 ing the acidity, which was stated in New York to be 

 an imdesirable feature of Barbados molasses. Sulphur- 

 ing the barrels has been found by Dr. Wiley, Chief of 

 the Bureau of Chemistry, United States Department 

 of Agriculture, to be very successful. Syrup so treated 

 kept for many months although the barrel was opened 

 sevei'al times for samples to be withdrawn. 



It would also appear necessary that greater 

 attention should be paid to grading, as this would 



assist in improving the prospects of good ])rices. A 

 suggestion is otlered that a few trial shipments should 

 be made of syrup, similar to that sent from Ruby 

 estate last season. It must be noted th:it it is not 

 proposed that .syrup should be shipped on a large scale 

 but only after it has been established that .syrup 

 would ])ay better than sugar. There would of course 

 be a danger of serious competition arising, in which 

 the Barbados syrup would not have the particular 

 advantages enjoyed by the molasses produced in this 

 island. 



It is hoped that planters and merchants, being 

 placed in possession of information as to the require- 

 ments of the market, will make an earnest effort to 

 bring about such improvement in the general character 

 of Barbados molasses as will lead to a demand for ib 

 at figures not below those obtained for the best 

 qualities produced in other countries. 



E.xactly simil.ir remarks apply to the molasses 

 .shipped at Antigua and St. Kitt's and indeed to all 

 localities where muscovado sugar is made. At 

 Jamaica little or no molasses is exported. It is there 

 entirely utilized in the manufacture of rum. 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Barbados Molasses. 



The following extract from the Louisiana 

 Planter of December 5, 1903, may be of interest as 

 bearing on the (piestion of impro\ing the quality of 

 Barbados molasses, which has of late occujiied so much 

 attention in this island : — 



We think tliat what i.s the matter with Barhados \s 

 wliat is occurring everywhere in the sugar world. Tlie 

 encroaehnicnt of corn syriqis or glucofie iqion the market for 

 liijuid .sweets is felt everywhere, and it has practically 

 destroyed the Louisiana molasses trade, and we iiresume 

 that its influence is now reaching the .sugar planter.s of 

 Barbados. Good, wholesome, i)lanfation molasses is one of 

 the best food articles known, and it is a pity that the 

 chemically prepared corn glucose should seem to be crowding 

 it out of existence. 



Porto Rico Molasses. 



Mr. Consul Churchward's Report on the Trade and 

 Comuwrcc of Porto Rico for the year 1902, recently 

 issued by the Foreign Office as No. 3,027 of the 

 Diplomatic .and Consular Reports, contains references 

 to the island's trade in molasses which are of consider- 

 able interest: — 



