THE DISEASES OF THE SUGAR-CANE. 



PART I. 



IN a preceding paper, the present economic position of 

 tropical sugar-growing countries was passed under 

 review. Attention was directed to the unequal conflict 

 taking place between cane sugar and bounty fed beet 

 sugar for the possession of the market of the world. And 

 it was pointed out that the British West Indian Colonies, 

 unsupported by any form of protection, are quite unable to 

 meet the strain, and appear to be on the verge of bankruptcy. 



It would have seemed incredible a few years ago that 

 the cane would ever be replaced by its inferior rival, the 

 beet-root. But the latter owes its present predominance in 

 a measure to this very inferiority. The taxing of Colonial 

 sugars gave the beet growers a chance, and all the resources 

 of modern science were brought to bear upon the improve- 

 ment of their staple. The problems to be solved were 

 mainly botanical and chemical. It was necessary, by 

 careful selection, to obtain varieties with richer juice, and, 

 by improved processes, to extract a maximum of the sugar 

 in this juice. As a result, the beet-root of to-day is little 

 inferior to the cane as a sugar producer, while the processes 

 •of extraction and purification are well nigh perfect. 



The fate of cane-growers, tied to their old mills, with 

 their 50 per cent, to 60 per cent, extraction, and 40 per 

 cent, to 50 per cent, waste, is certain ; but there is still fight 

 in those equipped with new and improved machinery, 

 worked on a large scale. 



2. In view, however, of the successive phases in this 

 great economic struggle, there is a danger of losing sight 

 of facts of another and equally important class. In a great 

 many estates, whether poorly or well equipped as regards 

 machinery, the cane juice is found to be of very inferior 

 quality ; and this becomes more marked as crop proceeds. 

 The quantity of sugar produced from areas of the same 

 size rapidly diminishes as the season advances, and it be- 



