Vol. V. No. 117. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



325 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Sugar Production in Java. 



The following correspondence relating to the 

 production of sugar in Java is published for general 

 information in continuation of that already published 

 in the Agricultural Neivs (Vol. Y, p. 179):— 



The Colonial Office — to the Imperial Covimissioner of 

 Agriculture. 



Downing Street, 



September 17, 1906. 



Sir, With reference to the letter from this Department 



of April 11 last, I am directed by the Earl of Elgin to 

 transmit for your information, a copy of a letter received at 

 the Foreign Otfice from His jiajesty's Consul at Batavia, 

 forwarding a report on the successful competition of .Java 

 sugar in tlic United States and in the United Kingdom. 1 am 

 to°state that it has been ascertained from the Foreign Office 

 that there would be no objection to the publication of this 

 report in the Bulletin of the Department of Agriculture. 



I am at the same time to transmit to you for your 

 information, a copy of a report on the Federated Malay 

 States and Java, by Senator Smith of the Parliament of the 

 Commonwealth of Australia, and to draw your attention to 

 the account of the Java sugar industry at pp. -57 and .58.* 



I am, etc., 



(Sgd.) C. P. LUCAS. 



British Consulate, Batavia, 



August 1, 1906. 



Sir, With reference to Foreign Office despatch Xo. 1, 



Commercial, of April 6, 190G, I have the honour to transmit 

 to you a short report on the successful competition of Java 

 .sugar in the United States, and in the United Kingdom. 



I have, etc., 



(Sgd.) H.B.M.'s CONSUL. 



With reference to the increase in the imports of Java 

 sugar into the United Kingdom from 22,463 tons in 1903 to 

 93, -4.53 tons in 1904, and to 118,899 tons in 190-5, I would 

 remark that from inquiries instituted by me, I attribute this, 

 not to the superiority of the Java product, but to the 

 speculation in the article generally, which became manifest in 

 1904. The low prices, which had some time previously been 

 rulinc, i5timulated consumption to such an extent that stocks 

 became reduced to an abnormally low level. In addition to 

 this, the continued warm weather experienced on the 

 continent of Europe during the .spring and summer of 1904 

 had a prejudicial effect on the growing beet, and those 

 interested in sugar foresaw an approaching shortage of 

 supplies. Towards the end of 1904, it became apparent that 

 speculation had been overdone, and that the United States 

 could not absorb the enormous quantities which had been 

 purchased for shipment during 1905 to that quarter. 

 Speculators gradually became anxious to dispose of their 

 holdings and sought the markets which appeared to have 

 become the least sensitive to the decline, with the result that 

 .several parcels were disposed of to Liverpool and Greenock. 



* Extracts from this report will appear in the next issue of 

 t\iQ AgrkvJt^nvJ News. [Ed. A.N.] 



The very remunerative prices, which the Java planters 

 obtained for their product in 1904, enabled them to improve 

 their machinery, with the result that few indeed of the Java 

 factories are now not fitted up with the most modern 

 appliances. 



For some years past, experiments have been made with 

 a view to ascertaining which species of cane would be most 

 suitable. Foreign canes have been imported but have not 

 proved a success. Cane grown from seedlings has also 

 practically been abandoned owing to the necessity and con- 

 sequent expense of having to be nurtured in gardens in the 

 hills. A few varieties of the indigenous cane are now- 

 regarded as being the most satisfactory, and this result has 

 only been arrived at after a continued process of careful 

 selection. The two experimental stations in Java have done, 

 and continue to do, much towards assisting planters ia 

 determining which species of cane is most suitable to the 

 peculiarities of the .soil. 



The cjuestion of manuring has, of late years, been 

 engaging the attention of planters, and experience has now 

 taught them that the systematic and plentiful application of, 

 sulphate of ammonia and other nitrogenous fertilizers to the 

 impoverished soils has amply rewarded them in the form of 

 increased production. It may not be out of place to mention 

 here that grounds which have been utilized for sugar growings 

 during one season are not used for the same purpose during, 

 the next, but are planted with rice or some other article.- 



The improvements in the machinery alluded to above, 

 together with economical management, have enabled Java, 

 factories to reduce the cost of production to such an extent 

 that sugar prices will have to reach a much lower level than 

 the lowest point touched during the past few years, to cause 

 any serious apprehension to Java planters. From particulars 

 which have been placed at my disposal, it would appear that 

 a production of 1,200 piculs (1 picul= 136 B). Eng.) of cane 

 or 125 piculs of sugar per planted bouw (1 bouw= 1-7537 

 acres) is by no means above the average. The cost of 

 production naturally varies considerably, but it seems to be 

 a genei-ally accredited opinion that a factory which cannot 

 deliver sugar, in the quality suitable for British, American, 

 Hong Kong, and Japanese markets, at the equivalent of 6s. 6(?. 

 per cwt., f.o.b., basis 96° polarization, is by no means uii to date. 

 For the sake of facilitating comparison, I may say that this, 

 would work out to be equal to about 7s. 10-J'f. to 8s. per cwt., 

 c.i.f. United Kingdom or United States port. 



Whether the Java article contains some inherent property 

 which renders it more attractive to the refiners in the United 

 States than the sugar produced in the We^t Indies, I am unable 

 to ascertain. I am also unaware what minimum polarization is 

 guaranteed by West Indian sugar sellers, but the .sobation 

 may possibly lie in the fact that Java sugar cargos are 

 guaranteed not below 95^ average on shipment, and I am 

 informed that this minimum has only on very exceptioua! 

 occasions been ajjproached, the bulk of the sugar from' 

 this island shipped to the United States turning out generally 

 above 96i°. 



Cacao in San Domingo. The quantity of cacao, 



exported from this port in the year 1905 was 9,642,898 ^^ 

 The varieties of cacao planted here are Caracas, Cuban, and 

 Guayaquil. The last named gives the best results, as it;with-- 

 stands drought better than the otiers. The hearts of all. 

 these beans are purple, the colour most preferred. The price 

 paid for cacao at present is $7-50 per quintal (110 lb.). The 

 production throughout the country is increasing at the rate 

 of 15 to 20 per cent, per annum. {U. S. Monthly Consular 

 Re2>orts.) 



