130 SCIENCE PROGRESS. 



European-grown beet, and (2) the various diseases at pre- 

 sent attacking the canes. In the present paper it is 

 proposed to deal more especially with the first of these. 



Let us consider, at the outset, our national position 

 regarding sugar. The British Isles consumed, in the year 

 1700, 10,000 tons of sugar; this amount had increased in 

 iSoo to 150,000 tons, while the present consumption is 

 1,566,000 tons. Why has sugar taken such a hold on the 

 people's fancy ? 



In Germany and France the quantity used is restricted 

 by taxation, but in Britain sugar has a free market. This, 

 in the main, explains the preponderance of British con- 

 sumption. All races eat sugar if they can get it ; and it is 

 becoming more certain every day that this preference is 

 due to the fact that sugar is a valuable muscle-making 

 food. 



It is perhaps worth while to dwell somewhat upon this 

 point, for, although a matter of common enough observation 

 in the Tropics, the facts are perhaps hardly appreciated 

 among Europeans. 



A striking example of the effect produced by sugar 

 upon the human system may be seen among the labourers 

 on West Indian sugar estates. There is a v^ery evident 

 improvement in the appearance and health, and, above all, 

 the muscular strength of the negroes as the reaping of the 

 crop proceeds. During this time they simply /ive upon the 

 sugar-cane and its expressed juices. A doctor named 

 Moseley, writing in the old slave days, noticed the same 

 thing, and thus states the case in language more forcible 

 than elegant : — 



"In the West Indies the negro children, from crude 

 vegetable diet, are much afflicted with worms. In crop 

 time when the canes are ripe these children are always 

 sucking them. Give a negro infant a piece of sugar-cane 

 to suck and the imi)Overished milk of his mother is tasteless 

 to him. This salubrious luxury soon changes his ap- 

 pearance. Worms are discharged, his enlarged belly and 

 joints diminish, his emaciated limbs increase, and if the 

 canes were always ripe he would never be diseased. I 



