REPORT OF Society’s MEETINGS. i79 
the information of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society a 
copy of a letter from the Emigration Agent for British Guiana at Cal- 
cutta, dated the 30th of December last, relative to the demand in India 
for foreign refined sugars, together with an extract from a further letter 
from Mr. Mitchell, dated the 6th January, on the same subject. 
I have the honour to be, 
Sir, 
Your obedient Servant, 
CAVENDISH BOYLE, 
The Honorary Secretary, 
Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society. 
Government Emigration Office, 
21, Garden Reach, Calcutta, 
30th December, 1896. 
Sir,— I have the honour to submit, for His Excellency’s consideration, 
that last year a small quantity of Beet sugar was imported from Europe 
as a speculation, and I am informed by those in a position to judge, 
that it has created a demand for foreign refined sugars, which are used 
in making native sweetmeats. , 
2. One merchant informed me he had orders for no less than 2,000 
tons during the next three months, and that the demand was limited 
simply by his wish festina lente. 
3. He seemed to be of opinion that the market here, for refined 
sugar, was practically unlimited, the expansion having been so marked 
in so short a period. 
4. I propose obtaining samples of the qualities of sugar in most 
demand at an early date, and forwarding them to the Colony. 
5. Hitherto about 150,000 tons of sugar, have been imported from 
Mauritius and other eastern Colonies, but it is only of late the importa~ 
tion of Beet sugar has been attempted. 
6. The area under cane cultivation in India is estimated at about 
3,000,000 acres, but, in Bengal especially, the cane is being largely sup. 
planted by Jute, which not only pays better, but is infinitely easier of 
manipulation, the human hand representing all the machinery required, 
7. The production of sugar per acre, judging by the cane cultivation 
I have seen, and the very indifferent crushing power at the Ryat’s com- 
mand, must be considerably under a ton per acre. The milland boiling 
apparatus being moved from field to field as required. 
Z2 
