138 Ki:W SOUTH WALES. 



As will be seen from tlie preceding table, publisbed by Mr, Cogblan, 

 tlie industry bas been a progressive one until 1892, except during the 

 years 1887-8-9, whicb Mr. Coglilan attributes to tbe facts tliat " tbe 

 low price of tbe staple and tbe disturbed state of tbe markets of tbe 

 world a few years ago forced tbe sugar manufacturers to correspond- 

 ingly reduce tbe price offered for tbe cane, and so caused for a time 

 tbe abandonment of tbis cultivation by tbe small farmers wbo found 

 in tbe growtb of maize less variable results for tbeir labour/^ 



Tbe following" information from tbe same autbority will give a good 

 idea of tbe extent of tbe industry : — 



The County of Rous (that is, the country chiefly drained by the Tweed, Bruns'n'ick, 

 and Richmond Rivers) is now the principal centre of sugar-cane cultivation, there being 

 948 holdings within its boundaries in 1894-5, or a total of 18,77-4 acres, devoted to its 

 production, an area comprising nearly three-fifths of th.e total acreage in the Colony under 

 sugar crops. The yield obtained from 7,S5o acres of productive cane amounted to 168,162 

 tons, thus showing an average of 21 "4 tons per acre. In tlie County of Clarence there 

 were in 1894-5 631 holdings on which cane was grown, the aggregate area being 9,573 

 acres. In this, as in other sugar-growing countries, the majority of the farmers cultivate 

 sugar-cane in addition to other crops, and only a few estates are entirely devoted to its 

 I)roduction. Some farmers liave areas of from 25 to 100 acres in extent under cane ; but 

 this number is lunited. The j'ield in the County of Clarence was 60,426 tons, or an 

 average of 15 "2 tons per acre, cut on an area of 3,970 acres. In the county of Richmond 

 the holdings under sugar-cane numbered 221, and aggregated 4,232 acres, of which 2,297 

 acres were cut, giving a total yield of 34,572 tons of the staple, or an average of 15"! 

 tons to the acre. 



Tbe amount of sugar-cane grown in otber parts of tbe Colony was 

 insignificant. 



The estates on which sugar-cane is grown number 1837, and the whole ci'op duiing the 

 last season amounted to 264,254 tons of cane, obtained from 14,203 acres, showing the 

 average production of 18 '6 tons per acre, which is 5 '9 tons below the average of the former 

 ten years. 



The total consumption of sugar in New South Wales during the year 1894 amounted to 

 56,639 tons, of which 25,292 tons were tlie product of the local j^lantations, the area cut 

 for the year's yield being 14,204 acres. The quantity treated by the New South Wales 

 refiners, including imports, during the twelve months was 37,810 tons. The yield of 

 sugar per ton of cane varies, of course, according to the viscidity of the juice ; but in 

 ordinary seasons it may be set down at somewhat over 9 per cent, of tlie quantity ti-eated. 



Until 1892 tbe yield of cane may be said to bave averaged well, tbe 

 farmers receiving satisfactory returns, and tbe manufacturers being 

 content witb tbe yield of sugar tbey obtained ; but in 1893 tbe con- 

 tinuous cropping of tbe land witb one kind of crop, and witbout 

 manuring, combined witb adverse weatber, caused an outbreak of 

 disease known as '' gumming," wbicb bas wrougbt great bavoc on tbe 

 Clarence and Ricbmond more particularly ; tbougb it is considered and 

 boped tbat a cbange in tbe seasons from wet to dry, combined witb 

 better cultivation, may arrest tbe progress of tbe disease. During tbe 

 last winter unprecedented frosts alfected tbe sugai'-cane to a consider- 

 able extent on tbe rivers and low-lying land ; but tbat on tbe bigli 

 lands seems to bave escaped damage. 



Xotwitbstandiug tbe outbreak of tbe gummiug disease, tbe farmers 

 on tbe Iticlimond and Tweed bave been anxious to increase tbe area 

 tbey bave under cane, and bave done so to a certain extent, but would 

 bave planted mucb more largely were it not for tbe disinclination of 



