Vol. XVI. No. 406. 



THE AGRIUULTITRAL NEWS. 



35T 



The recovery ic the form of sucrose in the sugar sold 

 Avas at Antigua 84'52 per cent., at St. Kitts 8704. The 

 figure for St. Kitts is e.xtremely good, and that at Antigua 

 satisfactory. The range in 19 If) for the two principal 

 factories in Cuba was from 783 to S4'.59. 



It is interesting to note, thouah this point has not the 

 importance often attached to it, that Gunthorpe's factory 

 in this season look S'76 tons of cane per ton of commercial 

 .sugar, and Basseterre 822. In Hawaii the average in 19 '.5 

 was 8' 14 tons; in Cuba 8 68 tins. 



The foregoing survey of the work of the past season 

 shows that the character of the woik at Antigua, and St. 

 Kitts, concerning which comparisons were made last year 

 in this Journal (Vol. XVI. p. 3.56, November 4, 1916), has 

 been well maintained; indeed some advance has been made 

 at St. Kitts, in that the recovery of sucrose in the form of 

 sucrose in sugar shipped in 1917 reaches 87 08 per cent., 

 whereas in 1916 it was 8-5o9. These figures may be 

 compared with those of the two first years of Gunthorpe's 

 factory, when the average was 64'74 and 64'.56. 



Judging by Hawaiian standards, it is possible to effect 

 further improvements, and doubtless the Directors of these 

 factories will consider whether or not it may be profitable to 

 attempt thi?m. In any case a h'gh level of efficiency has 

 now been reached in the smaller West Indian islands. It 

 remains to see that it is at least maintained and, if possible, 

 advanced. 



F.W. 



THE SUGAR MARKET. 



The following information concerning the sugar 

 situation is abstracted from the latest reports to hand of 

 Messrs. Gillespie Bros, and Co., dated New York 

 October 19 and 2(!, respectivelj': — 



The interest in refined sugar furnishes a situation 

 unparalleled in the history of the trade. Reficers are besieged 

 with orders for any amount of sugar that can be secured, 

 but, as previously reported, there is no possibility of satis- 

 fying even a small part of the demand, f.xfepc in a vei y 

 limited way. 



Most of the refiners have withdrawn from the market, 

 and there are now only, two local refiners who are siill 

 taking business from regular customers, but with restrictions. 

 Deliveries are still behind, and some cannot guarantee 

 delivery within thirty days, while others are three weeks 

 l.ehir.d on city, and two weeks on country orders. Four of the 

 largest refiners have closed down on account of the scarcity 

 cf raws, although they will reopen should they obtain 

 sufficient quantities to warrant their operations 



On October 26, the report runs: — 



The situation in 'sugar is still critical, and we have no 

 business to report as far as Cubans are concerned, although 

 the (juotition still remains at .5;c per lb. c. A- f., equal to 

 f.-90c. per B). duty paid. Within the pa=t day or two some 

 2,-500 tons of Philippine centrifugals afloat, and in transit by 

 rail, have been sold at 6-90c. per B). basis 96° c.i.f., and 

 7,000 tons of low grade Philippine sugar at 5-7.5c. per Bb., 

 basis 88° c i.f. New York. 



It is also reported that business has been concluded for 

 100,000 tons Louisiana raw sugars between the Louisiana 

 planters and the Food Administration, on the basis of 6 35c. 

 per 5). basis 96° f.o.b. New Orleans All Centrals have now 

 .stopped grinding in Cuba, and advices (rom there report the 

 weather is favourable for the growing crop. 



Receipts to the Atlantic ports for the week were 12,710 

 K. ns against meltings of 2.5,000 tens, and the stock in 



refiners' hands now totals 44,210 tons, which with 48,096 

 tons for the entire island of Cuba, makes a total of 92,959> 

 tons against 269,028 tons in all hands at this time last year. 

 From the foregoing, it will plainly be seen just how short we 

 are of supplies, and in order to provide for the household and 

 allied food needs, the Head of the Sugar Comiuission in 

 Washington has thought it advisable to discontinue selling to 

 confectioners, and syrup and cordial manufacturers, stating 

 further that they probibly will be licensed shortly, and their 

 business reduced to a minimum. 



Since writing the foregoing, it is reported that the 

 Sugar Commission at Washington has finally concluded to 

 allow confectioners to have 50 per cent, of their former 

 s'lgar requirements until .Janaary 10. What course is to be- 

 followed after that time is yet to be promulgated. 



A LIGHT MOTOR PLOUGH. 



The question of the employment of motors for plough- 

 ing and other agricultural operations has been receiving 

 attention of late in the pages of this Journal: reference may 

 be made to pages 285, 339, and 35 1 of the present Volume. 



Information has lately been received at this Otfioe from 

 the Secretary of the Food Production Department of the 

 Board of Agriculture and Fisheries of Great Britain, that the 

 Wyles Motor Plough is considered very suitable for orchards 

 or small holdings. It has not been found successful on large 

 farms. In the book 'Farming by Motor', which was reviewed 

 on page 285 of the issue of this Journal for September 8, 

 1917, there is a description given of this motor plough with 

 illustrations, from which we take the following particulars; — 



'This is one of the early, single cylinder, simple-type, 

 self-contained motor ploughs built by the first people in this 

 country (England) to devote serious attention to this type of 

 machine. The weis^ht of the machine being nearly balanced 

 on the front a.xle, the ploughman (who walks behind and 

 holds the hand":es as with an ordinary horse plough) is able 

 to lift the plough clear of the ground for turning at the 

 headlands It is Briti-ih made, and all parts are standard- 

 ized and interchangeable ' 



The following is a brief specification of its features; — 



Engine — Single cylinder, vertical, 11 b. h. p. 

 Transmission Gearing— Completely enclosed and run- 

 ning in oil, provides two speeds forward. No 

 reverse nece.ssary. 

 Wheels --2 feet 9 indies by 7 inclies face. 

 Weight— Including double furrow plough, appro.Kimately 



20cwt. 

 Dimensions— Over-all length, 12 feet (i inches; over-all 



width, 2 feet 6 inches; over-all height 4 feet. 

 This motor plough, although perhaps not suitable for 

 heavy cane land, might possibly do good work on light soils, 

 and in the culiivation of cotton or onions. Such soils as tho.se 

 of St. Kitts and St. A'incent, for instance, seem to be capable 

 of being cultivated successfully by a light motor of this type. 

 Full inform ition can be obtained from the manufacturers, 

 Wyle^ Motor Ploughs Ltd; 5 Carr Street, Manchester. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 

 Df. J. C. Hittson, B.A., Ph.D., Entomologist on the 

 staff of the Imperial Department of Agriculture, left 

 Barbados on Oct-ob-r SI for St. Vincent for eiitoiuolo- 

 gical studies. He is expected to remain in that islatnl 

 for about a month. 



