■26 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY 



IMPURITIES IN RAW SUGAR. 



In our last issue, we commented on the 

 •statements made in Parliament as to the 

 impurity in certain raw sugars imported 

 mainly from Cuba, and expressed the opinion 

 that more sugar was going through the 

 Tefineries than was necessary. This criticism 

 was to be found also in the daily press and 

 was emphasized by Parliamentary speakers, 

 "but it has now to be admitted in justice to 

 the refiners that, whatever may be the case 

 as to the purity of some consignments (which 

 we still think might have been allowed to 

 go into direct consumption), there have been 

 too many others coming from Cuba containing 

 a high percentage of physical impurities, 

 which certainly justifies the decision to refine 

 them. Apart from that, the sugars have at 

 times arrived in solid blocks, showing that 

 they had been bagged hot. That dirty bags 

 have been used in some cases appears unde- 

 niable on the evidence. And the proportion 

 of physically tainted sugar which has been 

 sent over would appear to have been consider- 

 ably higher than one would be led to expect 

 from Cuban sugar centrals. 



In view of the degree of publicity which 

 Cuban sugars have received of late in the 

 British Parliament, it seems highly desirable 

 that the explanation of the Cuban manufac- 

 tiu-ers should be forthcoming, if Cuban 

 sugar is not to acquire a bad name amongst 

 British consumers. One point that will need 

 elucidating is as to whether the sugar sent 

 ■over to this country was so dispatched on 

 the understanding that it was in any event 

 to go to the refineries. For if the manufac- 

 turer knew that there was no question of 

 liis product being put into direct consumption 

 he might feel justified in ignoring the presence 

 of the physical impurities, having regard to 

 ■circumstances which may have been held at the 

 lime. But in view of the fact that the best 

 Cuban crystals are usually pure enough to 

 warrant dispensing with refining, especially 

 when the refining output is not equal to the 

 demand, the recent faulty shipments certainly 

 seem to cast unnecessary reflection in the eyes 

 of the public here as to the quality of the sugar 

 the modern Cuban centrals can turn out, and 

 it would be in the interests of the Cuban man- 

 ufacturers to clear up the misapprehension. 



unless indeed they are content indefinitely 

 to cater for the refineries, and have no desire 

 to turn out direct consumption sugars. 



We need hardly add here that we are not 

 joining issue with those who would eliminate 

 the refiner altogether. Admittedly, the trend 

 of improvement in raw cane sugar factories 

 of late years has been, and will increasingly 

 be in the future, towards the production in 

 the raw sugar central of a product which can 

 be sold for direct consumption. Such sugar 

 will command a higher price than will the 

 lower refining grades, hence the sugar manu- 

 facturers will have some inducement to turn 

 out the purest quality they can. But this is 

 not the purity of the refined article, and there 

 will always be a demand for the latter for 

 table use and for preserving, which is not 

 likely to be lessened by a wide acquaintance 

 with the "plantation white" grade. The role 

 of the latter will be mainly for cooking, both 

 domestic and trade. The real point of recent 

 criticisms has been a fairly well founded belief 

 (as we have assumed) that the existing short- 

 age of sugar has been increased by the delay 

 that has arisen through the decision to refine 

 certain raw sugars which were, in the opinion 

 of many, fit under the circumstances to be 

 sent into direct consumption. The propor- 

 tion may not have been so great as has been 

 alleged, but it does appear to have existed; 

 and in view of the urgent need of sugar for 

 domestic purposes, the complaints in Parlia- 

 ment and elsewhere would seem to have been 

 justified. — The International Sugar Journal, 

 London. 



BEET SUGAR IN ENGLAND 



In order that the production of beet sugar 

 in England might be encouraged, the British 

 Board of Agriculture has made a loan of 

 £125,000 to the British Beet Sugar Growers 

 Association. 



U. S. BEET SUGAR. 



The estimated crop for 1917, based on con- 

 ditions August 1 : 



Indicated Increase from 



yield, 1917. 1916 yield. 



Sug. beets, tons. .7,820,000 Inc. 1,590,000 



