THE CUBA REVIEW 



27 



tion and in the financial problems involved and in the question of handling the product thereof. 

 In social phases of this industry as well, has he been n ost active and sj iiipathetic towards those 

 identified with the incUistry as workmen, with particular reference to their housin>r proidem 

 and to just and fair compensation. For this is he beloved, not only in his district of Cienfaegos, 

 but all over Cuba where his true friendship for tlie island is well understood. He has con- 

 ducted for many years at his own exj)ense and under the patronage of Harvard University a 

 Tropical Experimental Garden near Soledad, where he has been very successful in the hybridi- 

 zation of sugar cane, producing m^any new varieties of considerable con .m.erciai valae. For this 

 work he has received the honorary degree of A.M. from Harvard University in the year 1903. 

 These gardens have become well known throughout the world of agricultural circles and are 

 frequently visited hy scientists from many lands, representing goverrunent and private interests, 

 who have benefitted from the public-spirited initiative of Mr. AtKins. 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY 



SUGAR CONSUMPTION IN UNITED STATES 

 INCREASES 



The increase in consumjition of sugar in 

 the United States has been greater than the 

 increase in population, according to figures in 

 Bulletin 47.3, recently prepared by the Bureau 

 of Crop Estimates of the United States De- 

 partment of Agriculture. The total consump- 

 tion of sugar in this country for the decade 

 ending with the fiscal year 1912-13 was 42.9 

 per cent, greater than the consumption for 

 the preceding decade, while the population 

 for the same period increased only 21 per cent. 



The country is not only using more sugar, 

 but it is ])roducing a larger portion of its total 

 supply. During the decade ending with 

 1912-13, as compared with the decade ending 

 with 1902-03, the percentage of the total 

 supplv^ produced at home increased 36.6 per 

 cent., and the supply from noncontiguous 

 possessions 64.4 per cent., while, on the other 

 hand, the percentage imported from, foreign 

 countries decreased 20.9 per cent. The total 

 world production of both beet and cane sugar 

 has nearly doubled during the last 20 years 

 and increased from. 11,000,000 tons during 

 the sugar year 1S93-94 to 20,000,000 tons in 

 1912-13. 



Modern Equipment Provided for Cuban 

 Factories. 



In Cuba the sugar factories have been 

 improved by the use of modern equipment, 

 with the result that although the number of 

 factories slightly decreased, the output of 

 sugar during the last 10 years has been more 

 than doubled. During the last 20 years about 

 9.5 per cent, of the sugar proauced in Cuba 

 was exported, of which about 90 per cent, 

 came to the United States. In Mexico the 



lowlands along the coast are well adapted to 

 the growing of cane, and as many as 10 crops 

 moy he harvested from one planting. Despite 

 "unfavorable conditions, the production of 

 sugar there during the five years 1903-04 to 

 1907-08 increased 29.4 per cent, as compared 

 with the preceding five years, and the output 

 of sugar during the five years 1908-09 to 

 1912-13 increased 33.8 per cent. In nearly all 

 of the beet-growing countries of Eurojie the 

 sugar factories have decreased in num.ber^ 

 but by the use of im.proved methods the 

 output of sugar has increased. 



STANDARD SCALE PROPOSED FOR SUGAR 

 ANALYSIS 



More than 20 different scales have been 

 employed in sugar analvsis, with the resulting; 

 development of considerable misunderstand- 

 ing in the industries. In cooperation with 

 others who sought a rem.edy for this uncer- 

 tainty, the United States Bureau of Standards 

 has made a study of the problem, and a new 

 scale, together with tables for its use giving 

 equivalents in per cent sugar and specific 

 gravity, was constructed. 



The Baume scales are arbitrary and are 

 used considerably in the industries for deter- 

 mining the density and per cent sugar in 

 solutions. The great importance of these was 

 shown by the action of the Association of 

 Official Agricultural Chemists, which at its 

 last meeting recommended that the Bureau 

 of Standards prepare an official Baume scale 

 for use in the sugar industries. Previous to 

 that time the bureau had recognized the need 

 of such a scale, and had conferred with several 

 persons prominent in the field of sugar analy- 

 sis. Visits to commercial plants in Baltimore 



