Vol. X. No. 244. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



275 



surface, and of hairs, than these in bright light, while 

 the veins of the former are less strongly developed. 

 Lastly, shaded leaves are usually thin and limp, and do 

 not possess the dense structure of those that have 

 received a normal supply of light. 



Enough has been said to show that the sujjply of 

 light to plants is of much importance in relation to 

 their life-history, and that this is the case to such an 

 extent as to influence them in the direction of making 

 changes in iheir structure in order that they may adapt 

 themselves to the particular circumstances of the illum- 

 ination in which they have to grow. This importance 

 is being recognized for forest plants, and there is no 

 reason why it should receive les.s attention in relation 

 to plants, such as c;icao and limes, raised in orchard 

 cultivation, and to the proper provision of shade trees 

 for plants growing undei artiheial conditions. 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



SUGAR IN CUBA IN 1910. 



The crop of the 1909-10 season amounted to 1,800,000 

 tons or 100,000 tons in excess of the estimates, A compara- 

 tive table of the crops for the last two year.s is appended : — 



Year. Mills Cane Sugar, Sugar, Molasses, 



operating, ground, per cent. tons. gallon.s. 

 tons. 



1909 170 13,9.51,998 1090 1,521,818 60,331,307 



1910 175 16,173,378 11-23 1,817,-544 74,011,482 



Trustworthy estimates of the production of sugar for the 

 1910-11 season .set the figure at 12,241,000 bags (about 

 1,750,000 tons). The accuracy of the^e fi<;ures, based on tlie 

 working of 170 mills now in operation, depends on the con- 

 tinuance of favourable weather during the cutting season, 

 which extends from December until June. It is not antici- 

 pated, however, that the price will reacli the high figure of 

 the past season, the shrinkage in value being estimated at 

 £4,000,000. 



The estimated amount of sugar grown for home consump- 

 tion for the past three years is : 1908, 62,827 tons; 1909, 

 69,706 tons: 1910, 71,185 tons. 



Of the remainder, almost the entire amount is exported 

 to the United States, and, indeed, the sugar industry of Cuba 

 is slowly passing into foreign, principally United States, 

 hands. 



The trade with the United States is fostered by the 

 Reciprocity Treaty between the two countries, by which 

 Cuban sugar imported into the United State.-- receives prefer- 

 ential treatment. The American Sugar Tra.st controls a num- 

 ber of important plantations in the island. 



A certain number of refineries has been established and 

 that branch of the industry is now practically in a position to 

 supply local requirements, as is revealed Iiy the statistics of 

 the importation of refined sugar, which shows a decrease in 

 imports from 8,227 cwt. in 1905 to 425 cwt. in 1310. 



The average retail prices in Cuba for the year 1910 were 

 for white granulated sugar 3|rf. per lb , and for second qual- 

 ity sugar 2d. per tt. The average price for molasses at the 

 mill during the same period was l-70(/. per gallon. The 

 average wholesale price of sugar of the standard grade of 

 96° test, warehoused for e.xport, for the past three years, has 

 been : 1908, lis. M. per cwt.; 1909, ]0«. Qd. per cwt.; 1910, 

 1 Is. i\d. per cwt. 



The exportation to the United Kijigdom has increased 

 from none in 1908 to no less than 119,418 cwt. from the 

 1^909-10 crop. This was probably due to the shortage in the 

 European beet sugar crop, and a corresponding increa.se is not 

 anticipated in the exportation of the present year. 



Canada is making a bid for Cuban sugar, and the Legis- 

 lature of that country has made a provision allowing Cana- 

 dian refineries to import Cuban sugar up to 20 per cent, of 

 their total output on the same terms as sugar from the Brit- 

 ish West Indies 



During the month of .March, in order to bring the coun- 

 try into line with the requirements of the Brussels Sugar 

 Convention of 1902, the Cuban Government reduced the 

 import duties on raw sugar to $1-00 per 100 kilos., and on 

 retined sugar to 75c. per 100 kilos. The question was one of 

 vital impurtance to the Cuban sugar industry, which, although 

 chiefly dependent on the United States market, is able to 

 deal, as long as the European market is open, at the price 

 fixed in that market. 



The industry is in a thoroughly thriving condition. The 

 soil is of such fertility that the canes will continue produc- 

 tive without renewal for a period unknown in other countrie.s, 

 and the industry is consequently of such a profitable nature 

 that foreign capital is very readily attracted to it. 



The prosperity produced by the recent crops has caused 

 large purchases of modern machinery, which lead to great 

 economies in production, and consequently increased profits. 

 As there are still profitable openings in this industry for 

 British labour and capital— at present there are only five or 

 six British plantations in the whole island -a short account 

 of it may not be out of place. 



The average production per acre is 12 bags, or 3,900 lb. 

 The usual course with planters is to arrange with a mill to 

 take their cane, receiving in return 55 to 60 per cent, of the 

 value of the sugar produced therefrom. This averages £10 

 to £12 per acre. The remainder, together with the second 

 grade sugar and the molasses, goes to the mill. Sugar is 

 a sure crop, it is little affected by the cyclones, requires but 

 little skill or attention, and the mills are ready to assist small 

 planters with advances, implements, etc. The ploughing for 

 spring sowing is done in January, February and March, and 

 the planting in April and May, and the autumn planting in 

 August or September. Satisfactory sugar land may still be 

 bought at £4 to £10 per acre. {Dij'lonmtic and Consular 

 Report!, No. 4695, Annual Series.) 



The report of the Royal Commission appointed to 

 enquire into the question of the erection of additional 

 central sugar factories in (Queensland contains the recom- 

 mendation that two such factories .shall be erected, having 

 a capacity of 10,000 tons and of 5,000 tons, for the season 

 of 1913. It is also recommended that, under certain 

 conditions, a third factory shall be built, having a capacity 

 equal to the latter of the two just mentioned, and further 

 that for the .season 1914, another factory, with a capacity of 

 8,000 tons shall be built. The question of the future 

 erection of sugar factories is to be left to the State 

 Treasurer. 



