26 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



and (iv) an examination of sugar beet roots which were 

 grown near Peshawar. 



8. The Date Palm Sugar Industry. — As mentioned in 

 my last annual report, an investigation of the date palm 

 sugar industry was commenced at my suggestion by Mr. 

 Annett during the cold weather of 1910-11. This was con- 

 tinued during the cold weather of 1911-12 and has resulted 

 in an accumulation of some very valuable information on 

 the subject. In addition to a review of its past history, 

 Mr. Annett has been able, by spending some months in the 

 Jessore District, to obtain an intimate knowledge of the 

 present conditions of the industry, its agriculture, mode of 

 cultivation, tapping, and manufacture of the raw and re- 

 fined sugars. Also he conducted a long series of tests in 

 camp in Jessore on the quantity and composition of the 

 juice, the amount of decomposition and the means by which 

 this might be prevented. Mr. Annett found that the fresh 

 juice contains 8 to 10 per cent, of sucrose associated with 

 practically no glucose, but that owing to imperfect methods 

 of collection, 1 to 2 per cent, of glucose is formed during 

 the night. There are also subsequently further losses of 

 sugar during the boiling process, which is at present carried 

 out in small earthen pots, and again during the native refin- 

 ing processes losses of sugar occur. In an account of this 

 work, which is to be published, Mr. Annett refers to the 

 great improvements which have been introduced into the 

 corresponding American industry — the maple sugar manu- 

 facture — in which case it is to be noted that a iuice con- 

 taining only some 3 per cent, of sugar forms the " raw 

 material." If one can afford to employ good appliances 

 and perfected methods in that industry, it should certainly 

 be possible to apply them to India's date sugar. 



The reference to this investigation would be incomplete 

 without an acknowledgment to Mr. E. G. McLeod of 

 Kotechandpur, who rendered Mr, Annett very considerable 

 assistance and provided him with detailed information of 

 the profits and losses of his (Mr. McLeod's) factory. 



