290 



DATE SUGAR INDUSTRY IN BENGAL. 



In Bengal proper about 15 per cent, of the total outturn of gur 

 is said to be date gur. 



In general it appears that the industry began to assume 

 important proportions from about the middle of last century. 

 During the last twenty years or so it appears to have been declin- 

 ing. It seems probable that the causes for this decline are the same 

 as those which are causing a similar decline in the production of 

 cane sugar in India. 



A warning might here be added against placing too great 

 reliance on the accuracy of the figures showing the amount of gur 

 produced from the date palm annually. 



It seems to the author that estimates of production of palm 

 sugar are best based on the number of trees. The Collector of 

 Jessore has very kindly had counted for me the total number of 

 trees in use for sugar production in his district. The counting has 

 been done during the current year (1912) and pains were taken to 

 get as accurate results as possible. The detailed results are here 

 set out as they may be of use for future record. 



