26 THE CUB A RE V IE W 



present moment is being converted into what is now termed "motor spirits," which is . 

 being favourably substituted for gasoline for fuel in internal combustion engines, such I 

 as tractors and automobiles are driven with. 



The variety of cane usually ground in Cuba is the crystallina, although there are 

 others also cultivated, such as Cinta and Uba. These vary in the amount of sucrose 

 from as low as 8 per cent, to as high as 14 per cent. In the development of new, 

 varieties the Agricultural Experiment Station, financed by the Cuban government, is 

 doing considerable research, and in the near future it is figured that canes will be 

 developed that are higher in sucrose, and that are more resistant to the mosaic disease, 

 which has been introduced into Cuba during the past few years and is making con- 

 siderable headway in the eastern section of the island. 



Cultivation of cane in Cuba has been very crude up to the present time, the cane 

 being cut into small pieces and put into holes, and the only actual cultivation being 

 the weeding process, usually done with a hoe by hand. The cane is now being cultivated 

 on some of the larger plantations by the use of gang plows pulled by tractors. It is 

 cut and hauled by ox cart to railroad stations, from which it is delivered to the mills, 

 where the cars are now dumped by machinery. And there it starts through the process, 

 from which in most cases only 96 test sugar is made, the greater part of which is sold 

 to the United States, where it is converted for consumption into refined sugar. At the 

 present time Cuba has only four real bone-char refineries, but these more than supply 

 the needs of Cuba. 



Cuba has enjoyed several eras of prosperity, notably during the World War, after 

 which followed the sudden drop in prices from 22.5 cents to less than 3 cents per 

 pound, c.f. However, Cuba is now enjoying another era of high prices, and many of 

 those who lost their all are now seeing the light of a new day. During the crisis of 

 1920 many of the centrals were taken over by a number of the large banks that had 

 advanced large sums, but the banks seem to be inclined to return the properties once 

 their moneys are recovered. Cuba's future, dependent upon sugar chiefly, is again 

 looming large. — [From The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manujacturer, June 2, 1923.] 



Indicated United States Sugar Consumption First Six Months 



As usual at this time, we present herewith our compilation of the indicated con- 

 sumption of sugar in the United States during the first half of 1923, compared with 1922. 

 As we have before remarked, these figures, while being close valuations, must be ac- 

 cepted with the usual stipulations, which are that it is very seldom that the consumption 

 of the last half of the year is equal to that of the first half. While some people at first 

 thought may tend to dispute this statement as regards 1923, yet about the only point in 

 which 1923 differs from other years is that the "invisibles" are in the hands of the refiners 

 this year, whereas they are usually in the possession of the wholesale and retail grocers. 



Indicated U. S. Sugar Consumption First Six Months 



1923 1922 



Tons Tons 



All U. S. refining ports, meltings and deliveries, refined value 2,355,417 2,657,351 



Louisiana crop consumed, less accounted for in above figure 39,990 71,380 



Domestic beet consumed 377,984 602,487 



Total 2,773,391 3,331,218 



Less exports from all U. S. ports *169,800 {659,265 



Indicated Consumption 6 Months 2,603,591 t2,671,953 



Decrease 68,362 



Decrease 2 . 56% 



*Estimated. 



tCorrected figure for 1922. 



