82 



The World's Commercial Products 



per cent, of the world's production, was obtained from the sugar-cane ; its present formidable 

 rival, the sugar-beet, contributing only about 250,000 tons, or about sixteen per cent, of 

 the total. 



The actual figures are worthy of careful study. 



Present day . . . 

 Fifty years ago . 



Commercial Sugar Crop of the World 



Cane-Sugar. Beet-Sugar. 



4,000,000 tons 

 1,250,000 „ 



40 per cent. 

 84 , , 



6,000,000 tons 

 250,000 „ 



60 per cent. 

 16 ,, 



During the last half a century the total production of sugar in the world has increased from 

 1,500,000 tons to 10,000,000 tons, or, approximately, has been multiplied by seven. The 

 output of cane-sugar has been multiplied by three, but in the same period the output of beet- 

 sugar has been multiplied by no less a figure than twenty-four. Europe produces practically 

 all the beet-sugar of the world, for although the industry has made considerable progress in the 

 United States the total output of beet-sugar from that country is not as yet more than one- 

 fiftieth of the world's annual sugar crop. The history of this extraordinary development of an 

 industry is dealt with under beet-sugar, but it will be well to point out here that it has 

 mainly been due to the application of science. It is the joint work of the chemist, the botanist, 

 the engineer, the cultivator, and the manufacturer, and by their co-operation there has been 

 built up in Europe an industry which, allowing an average value of £10 per ton for the raw 

 sugar, is now worth £55,000,000 annually. 



The following figures indicate the average annual production of sugar for the last five 

 years from the five continents of the world. They serve to show the pre-eminent position 

 of Europe as a sugar-producing region. 



Very carefully compiled tables of the production of sugar in every country are compiled 

 annually by Messrs. Willett & Gray and Messrs. Licht, and these tables have been used for the 

 preparation of the figures here given. 



America 

 Asia . . 

 Africa 

 Australasia 

 Europe 



It should be remembered, however, 

 that India probably produces close upon 

 3,000,000 tons of cane-sugar per annum, 

 which being consumed locally does not 

 appear above, and if we add this the 

 total production of the cane would 

 exceed 7,000,000 tons. 



THE SUGAR-CANE 



The sugar-cane is a large grass, grow- 

 ing far taller than any grass with which 

 we are familiar in temperate climates, 

 luxuriant plants reaching twenty or more 

 feet in height. In spite of its size the 



SUGAR factory — COOLING bowls 



