" Changes on Sugar Estates." 213 



and I think the few figures I give will be convincing as to 

 the economy. 



Firstly. — Crushing, 15 per cent, more being obtained. 



Secondly. — Triples as saving inversion, 5 per cent. 



Thirdly. — Subsiders, juice obtained, 5 per cent, on 

 day's work. 



Fourthly. — Curing at least 5 per cent. ; this I consider 

 a very low figure. 



Giving us at least 30 per cent, more sugar on a ton of 

 canes. 



In labour, fuel and packages, I have shown a saving of 

 £^ per ton of sugar. The making of second sugars has 

 also done much for advancement in manufa6luring ; 

 and as to the greatly improved distilleries with the 

 excellent return of rum now obtained, with thorough 

 cleanliness, any one can see what a change there has 

 been without even the aid of the ele6lric light. This is 

 not on every estate, but on a good many ; nor do I 

 mention diffusion, as this is only on two estates in the 

 colony, but shall proceed to touch lightly on changes 

 and improvements outside of the buildings. A very 

 marked change occurred in about 1873, when the Ameri- 

 can market was opened to us, for instead of making 

 yellow crystals, a dark sugar without any chemicals in it 

 was made, polarizing 96 per cent, of sugar ; these were 

 called dark crystals, or non-chemical. This was a great 

 opening to the planter, who obtained a good ready 

 market for his sugar, most of which he could sell on the 

 spot. I shall here also mention that in 1865 it cost the 

 planter from £2^ to ^^30, to produce a ton of sugar; to- 

 day, on properly regulated estates, ;^i5 is what it costs. 



First and foremost were the great improvements made 



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