474, AGRICULTURAL MANUFACTURES. 
planters themselves, and is corroborated by other persons of undoubt- 
ed authority on West Indian affairs. 
In 1849 a Committee was appointed by Parliament to inquire into 
the question of the sugar duties. Before this committee several of 
the West India planters were examined on oath, and they all agreed 
that, although the cane contained from 16 to 20 per cent. of saccha- 
rine, not more than from 4 to 6 per cent. was obtained from it, 
although it is well known by scientific men that the whole of the 
saccharine is convertible into crystallised sugar. Since that period, 
improvements have been introduced into the machinery department, 
and it is probable that the proportion of sugar obtained is now larg- 
er—possibly 7 or 8 per cent. Still a large amount of saccharine is 
wasted and thrown into the fire with the megass or refuse of the 
cane. A considerable quantity of it is crystalised by the sun in the 
plant itself whilst ripening, and cannot therefore be extracted. The 
two manufactures, therefore, are much upon a par in respect to the 
quantity of sugar obtained from the two plants. 
Dr. Davis, in his work on the West Indies, states that 100 hhds. 
of sugar, weighing l5cwt. each, cost 6672 dollars cultivating ; and 
deducting 2000 dollars for the molasses, the sugar costs 14s. per cwt. 
To this must be added 4s. for freight and insurance, and 3s. landing, 
warehousing, and brokerage, &c. But besides this, the loss by 
drainage on the voyage is estimated at 2ewt per hhd., which makes 
the cost amount to 24s. per cwt., besides interest of money, and 
other incidental charges and deductions. These bring the cost of 
West India sugar much higher than that of indigenous sugar made 
from the beetroot on the Continent, which at the market price yields 
a good profit when manufactured in the best manner and upon a 
large scale. 
There is no doubt, however, that the West Indian estates are ca- 
pable of being worked to much greater advantage than is the present 
practice in Jamaica at least. In Barbadoes the planters have adopt- 
ed the new scientific system, and are reaping the benefit of it im the 
increased amount and improved quality of the produce. In Deme- 
rara also, a spirit of enterprise has been evinced, and steam-power 
and machinery of the newest description introduced into the manu- 
facture. Still the colonial sugar-planters labour under disadvantages 
and drawbacks, from which the European sugar-makers are free, and 
the latter will always be able to make a profitable trade when the 
West Indian is losing money. 
Having thus given a history of the manufacture of indigenous 
