Vol. V. No. 101. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



67 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Demerara Seedlings. 



The Demeiara seedlings D. 7-1 and D. 95 seem to have 

 found favour with sugar planters in Louisiana. The Suijaf 

 Planters' Journal, in its issue of January 27, 190G, comments 

 favourably on the rapidity with which these canes have 

 increased in acreage during the past few years. It is estimated 

 that nearly four-fifths of all the sugar planters have 

 introduced one or both these canes into their cultivations, 

 and that the plantings in 1906 will be chiefly of these 

 seedlings. Thu Sugar Planfers' Journal says: ' Should the 

 seedlings hold up as they have done, we look for at least 

 two-thirds of Louisiana's cane areas to be planted with them, 

 two to three years hence.' 



The Louisiana Planter and Su(jar Manvfacturer for 

 February 3, 1906, contains an article headed ' L). No. 7-1: in 

 Blossom.' From this article it appears that D. 74 has 

 arrowed in Louisiana during 1905, while none of the older 

 canes are reported to have done so. This is taken to prove 

 that D. 74 has a shorter cycle of growth than the old- 

 established canes of Lnuisiana, and this, with its much 

 higher saccharine content, tends to make it a valuable cane 

 for use in that state. The following is quoted from the 

 article referred to: — 



'Now we have D. 74 largely introduced among the 

 sugar planters of the state, of admittedly high sugar content, 

 and displaying every evidence of maturity, while our older 

 varieties remain immature. All this would indicate that, for 

 us in Louisiana, owing to our short grinding season, I). 74 

 may be found to be a better cane than we have thus far 

 given it credit, and its general use in tlie cane fields of oiir 

 state may bring us relief that we can liardly reach in any- 

 other direction ; that is sweeter canes, and canes more cheaply 

 Jiarvested, owing to their erectness.' 



Sugar-cane Experiments in the Leeward Islands. 



In reviewing the report on the sugar-cane 

 experiments in the Leeward Islands for 1904-5, 

 recently issued by the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture, the fjarbados Agricultural Reporter, 

 January 25, 190G, concludes as follows: — ■ 



The Commissioner of Agriculture mentions as a matter 

 for gratification tliat the cane fields tliroughout the Leeward 

 Islands' colony show an almost complete absence of rotten 

 canes. Dr. Watts is quoted as saying that the relief from 

 anxiety on this score is directly traceable to the introduction 

 of new varieties of canes. This is a policy which is well 

 known to have been steadily advocated and encouraged by 

 the Imperial Department of Agriculture. The Commissioner 

 accords credit to Dr. Watts and his colleagues for the manner 

 in whicli these experiments were carried on. The value and 

 importance of the experiments conducted under the direction 

 of the Department of Agriculture cannot be too highly 

 estimated, for the knowledge gained thereby enables sugar- 

 cane planters to avoid much loss both of time and of money, 

 and places them in a position to pursue the course calculated 

 to secure the best returns from their lands. There is full 



justification for the belief that the institution of these- 

 experiments has helped to avert a .serious decline in the 

 output of sugar by these colonies, by directing the planters' 

 attention to the means for combating the ravages of fungoid 

 diseases and insect pests. The continuance of the search for 

 improved varieties of cane is essential to the improvement 

 and maintenance of the sugar industry. 



Notes on Sugar Machinery. 



In Jamaica, an effort is being made to improve the 

 sugar manufacture, and triple-effect evaporating apparatus. 

 and numerous sundries have been sent out. In the Danish 

 We.st Indian Island of St. Croix, great attention has been 

 paitl of late years to improved extraction, and this year 

 a nine-roller mill, preceded by a Krajewski crusher, all 

 driven by one engine, has been supplied to one of the 

 grinding stations of the central sugar factories, and a new 

 vacuum pan and other accessories to another factory. 

 {Glasgov: Herald, December 30, 1905.) 



During the year a number of new complete central 

 sugar factories have been shipped from Glasgow for British 

 India, for Natal, and for Japan. Further orders are in 

 hand for sugar factories and refineries for various parts of 

 the world, including a large central factory for the Fiji Islands. 

 This is for a Canadian company, and will sujiply sugar for 

 the Canadian sugar refineries, and take advantage of the 

 preferential tariff given by the Canadian Government to all 

 raw sugar made in the British Colonies. All which tend, 

 to improvement in this specialty of engineering in Glasgow.. 

 (Glasfforv Herald, December 30, 1905.) 



A NEW SUGAE MILL FOR BERBICE. 



We learn that Messrs. George Fletcher & Co., Derbj-,. 

 have just constructed a new mill for Port Mourant plantation, 

 Berbice, British Guiana. It consists of a very powerful 

 three-roller mill, with cane-crushing rollers attached, the five 

 rollers being driven by one engine. The latter is, moreover, 

 arranged .so as to drive not only the five rollers already 

 mentioned, but also additional mills which probably will 

 he added later on, thus converting the grinding plant 

 into an eleven-roller mill. [International Sujar Journaly 

 January 1906.) 



Sugar in Mexico. 



The following note is taken from the Louisiana 

 Planter and Sugar Mcmufacturer for February 10, 

 1906 :— 



The sugar news from ^Mexico is not very satisfactory^ 

 The sugar crop will probably be equal to that of last year, 

 and of last year's crop it was neccessary to export about one- 

 fourth, the bulk of which went to England. In order tO' 

 maintain prices for sugar in Mexico, a holding syndicate was 

 formed, which, not being very successful, went into liquida- 

 tion and still holds a limited amount of last year's crop. 

 No provision has been made for the export of the surplus- 

 of this year's crop, and as exported sugars will now bring; 

 about half the price they did a year ago, every sugar planter 

 will feel reluctant about joining any exporting syndicate, and 

 will be anxious to sell what he can in the home market, as- 

 long as it is protected by their protective tariff on imported 

 sugars. This will be all very well for them, if they can 

 control the surplus and export it, for doing which no 

 arrangement has thus far been made, and the successful 

 control of which at the moment seems doubtful. 



