194 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



sugars, and that it is quite possible, that in 1870 steamers will land at 

 Cairo, 111., for cargoes of it for the New Orleans market. Statistics show 

 that in France the consumption of sugars has doubled in the last thirty 

 years. It has increased more than fifty per cent in England, in the last 

 fifteen years. In the German States, embraced in the Zollverein, it has 

 quadrupled in the same period. The consumption in this country is some- 

 thing more than twenty pounds, annually, per head. And it is a remarkable 

 fact, that, large as is the consumption in France, twenty millions, or nearly 

 two-thirds of its population, do not use sugar at all. Ffom 1801 to 1857, 

 the increase- in the use of sugar has been enormous in this country. In 

 the former year we imported 21,376 tons; in the latter, 241,765, which, 

 added to 39,000 from Louisiana, made an aggregate consumption of 280,765 

 tons. The consumption of England in 1801, was 114.542 ; in 1857, 355,719 

 tons. In France, the figures are only complete as far back as 1831, in 

 which year its consumption was 91,671 tons; in 1857, it had reached 

 180,032 tons. 



Now, we have entirely neglected one branch of manufacture, which in 

 France I find to be principally pursued at the present day, viz.: the making 

 of alcohol and brandies. Whenever our people fully realize that the 

 miserable stuffs they are now drinking under the names of "Cognac 

 Brandy," "^ Old Jamaica Rum," "London Dock Port," and "Amontillado 

 Sherry," are nothing but common pure spirits disguised with diff"erent 

 poisonous and nauseating essential oils^ and find that from pure sorgho 

 juice fine brandy, rum, alcohol, cider and beer can be easily made at a very 

 low price, we shall suddenly awaken to the fact that our friends from 

 China and Africa have still another recommendation to favor. 



I will say nothing of the excellent vinegar, of the paper made from the 

 macerated fibers of the stalk, of the nutritious flour from the seeds, and 

 the value of the seeds themselves as a substitute for oats for horses, nor of 

 the brilliant dyes for which Doctor Sicard has taken out a patent in France, 

 for these, as compared with the forage, the sugar syrup and alcohols are of 

 minor importance. But I think that from what has already been enume- 

 rated, you will agree with me that "the national value of the Chinese 

 Sugar Cane " is very considerable. 



Mr. W. Lawton said that the statistics given in Mr. Olcott's paper 

 showed that we use here one-tenth as much sugar as flour, and this would 

 show to the Club the magnitude of the interest which was before them for 

 discussion. If we considered this new cane in any one of the aspects pre- 

 sented, he felt sure that we would see that the greatest satisfaction must 

 be felt from its domestication amongst us. The attention of the fai-mers, 

 although much attracted to it, should be still more so. It is no delusive 

 humbug, nor any longer a mere experiment of questionable value. 



The chairman said that in Africa he had seen the natives plucking out 

 the spikelets to increase the quantity of saccharine in the stalk. As to its 

 being poisonous to stock he did not believe it ; for in Africa the natives 

 had suffered their goats, sheep, and cattle, to eat it, for ages past. In fact 



