106 THE PALMS OF ASIA. 



Viney and Cardoza, of Pondicherry. It lias 

 been stated that palm sugar is deficient in -what 

 is technically called strength; that is, when 

 refined, it forms a sugar which crumbles in 

 drying. Hence these sugars are sold as im- 

 ported to grocers for mixing ; they do not pay 

 for refining. It is the opinion of some, how- 

 ever, who are Avell qualified to judge, that palm 

 sugar will eventually, to a great extent, super- 

 sede cane sugar. It can he manufiictured at 

 less cost, and the palms affording it grow in 

 abundance in all parts of the tropics, in a dry 

 sandy soil which would produce nothing else 

 of v;due. They require very little cultivation, 

 merely enough to keep the luxuriant vegetation 

 from springing tip into a jungle around tlieni, 

 and to remove the numerous parasitical plants 

 from their stems. Of course the sugar will 

 improve in quality when more experience has 

 l)een gained in the way of making it, the oldest 

 factory having been established only a few 

 years. The quantity produced in 1844 was 

 more than six thousand tons. Besides the 

 riiccnix sijlvestris, the sap of other palms is 

 employed in making jagghery, the most im- 

 portant o£. which are, Borassus fabelli/oimis, 

 Arenga sac char if era, and the cocoa nut, and 

 lesser fun palms. 



