2' '; ' t <; ( '< \ \.' SUGAR 



subject of sugar is not only a technical one of the highest 

 importance both from the practical and the scientific 

 point of view, but also has an international, economic 

 and political side which furnishes a unique and striking 

 object lesson for those who take an intelligent and 

 inquiring interest in the economic questions of the day. 

 But rightly to learn this lesson the reader must bring 

 to the study an open mind, unwarped by preconceived 

 notions founded on theoretical dogmas unsupported 

 by the practical experience of actual work and daily 

 experiment. In natural science it is necessary to begin 

 in the laboratory in order to arrive at the facts on which 

 to construct theories. In economic science this process 

 is equally necessary, but unfortunately is seldom fol- 

 lowed. The history of sugar will show that the practical 

 experience of that great laboratory called industry does 

 not always bear out the conclusions to which learned 

 professors may arrive in the comfortable repose of their 

 armchairs. 



To begin at the beginning, let us cast a retrospective 

 glance at sugar in this country sixty years ago, just before 

 great changes began, and first of all to London, at that 

 time the largest centre of importation. The actual 

 figures of proportional imports were, in 1860 : London, 

 50 per cent. ; the Clyde, 17 per cent. ; Liverpool, 15 

 per cent. ; Bristol, 10 per cent. ; other ports, 8 per cent. 

 In the year 1900 the figures, in round numbers, were : 

 London, 11 per cent. ; Liverpool, 15 per cent. ; the 

 Clyde, 7 per cent. ; Bristol, 4 per cent. ; other ports 

 entirely foreign refined sugar 63 per cent. The 

 imports in 1860 were practically all raw sugar ; we made 

 all the refined sugar consumed here. In 1900 the 

 imports were, in London, Liverpool, the Clyde and 

 Bristol, raw sugar for refining coupled with a certain 

 proportion of foreign refined sugar. In all the other 



