CULTIVATION OP PLANTS. 193 



trees. As an article of fuel, its wood equals the solid hick- 

 ory.* 



The increased consumption of sugar within the last century, 

 is really astonishing; and so nutritive, wholesome and agree- 

 able, universally acceptable to the infant and the aged the 

 civilized and the savage, no possible limit can be set to its 

 consumption. The population of the sugar growing countries 

 now that Europe is recognised as such by the late, but very 

 extensive fabrication of sugar from the beet root is estimated 

 at four hundred and sixty-eight million souls. The great tra- 

 veller and naturalist, HUMBOLDT, states, that in Mexico the 

 consumption is ten pounds per year to each inhabitant. The 

 estimated consumption in England is set down at twenty-four 

 pounds to an inhabitant; in Ireland, five; in Scotland, six and 

 a half; in Belgium, seven; in Holland, seventeen; in Spain, 

 four and a half; and in Portugal the same; France and Ger- 

 many, at present the great beet-sugar manufacturing countries, 

 are large consumers, the average of the former being seven 

 pounds to an inhabitant; of the latter, five and a half. The total 

 annual consumption of sugar in Europe, is one thousand million 

 two hundred and sixty-seven pounds; of which one hundred 

 and forty million, or sixty-two thousand five hundred tons, are 

 beet-sugar. The total annual consumption throughout the 

 world, is set down at six thousand two hundred and sixty-seven 

 million pounds worth, at six cents a pound, three hundred and 

 seventy-six million and twenty thousand dollars; two hundred 

 million pounds are probably consumed in the United States, 

 which will give to each individual sixteen pounds per annum. 

 Our domestic production which has rarely proved profitable 

 is estimated at fifty thousand hogsheads, or fifty million of 

 poundsjt to which may be added from ten to fifteen tons of 

 the maple-sugar. In 1837, the sugar imported into the United 

 States amounted to one hundred and thirty-six million one 

 hundred and forty-nine thousand seven hundred and sixty-one 

 pounds. In the same year, the exports to forty million one 

 hundred and twenty-four thousand eight hundred and nine 

 pounds, leaving a balance against us of ninety-six million four- 

 teen thousand nine hundred and fifty-two pounds. 



The amount of sugar consumed is almost incredible. The 

 aggregate quantity imported for the seven years ending Sep- 

 tember 30, 1831, was five hundred and thirty-six million 

 three hundred and sixty-three thousand five hundred and 

 ninety-two pounds; and in the seven years preceding Septem- 



* Hon. ISAAC HILL, governor of New Hampshire. 



t In 1839 the cane-sugar manufactured in Louisiana and Mississippi alone, 

 exceeded forty thousand hogsheads. 

 17 



