54 BULLETIN 473, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



CANE SUGAR. 



The cane-sugar industry in Spain is an old one and has been local- 

 ized for a number of years in the three Provinces of Almeria, Gra- 

 nada, and Malaga. The growing of cane is confined to a small area, 

 and occupied 11,666 acres in 1910, 9,983 in 1911, 9,841 in 1912, and 

 4,581 in 1913. The production of cane decreased from 258,137 tons 

 in 1910 to 167,092 in 1911, 153,707 in 1912, and 79,719 in 1913. The 

 average production of cane per acre was 21.9 tons in 1910, 16.5 in 

 1911, 15.6 in 1912, and 17.4 in 1913. The cane-sugar industry has 

 been less profitable than the beet- sugar industry, and the quantity of 

 cane used for sugar during the last 15 years has decreased, while the 

 quantity of beets used has increased. The cane crushed during the 

 three years 1899-1900 to 1902-3 averaged 320,504 tons, compared with 

 133,506 tons for the three years 1911-12 to 1913-14. The production 

 of sugar decreased from 28,962 tons to 13,566 tons, respectively, for 

 the two periods just mentioned. The production of sugar per ton of 

 cane for these two periods increased from 178 pounds in the first 

 period to 202 pounds in the second period. During the decade 1903- 

 4 to 1912-13 the cane used decreased from 287,735 tons in 1903-4 

 to 153,707 tons in 1912-13, or an average of 226,394 for the decade. 

 The production of sugar decreased from 24,444 tons in 1903-4 to 

 14,585 in 1912-13, or an average for the decade of 20,783 tons. The 

 average production of sugar per ton of cane for the decade was 184 

 pounds, and exceeded 200 pounds for the years 1907-8, 1909-10, and 

 1911-12. The percentage of sugar extracted per weight of cane in- 

 creased from 8.49 per cent in 1903-4 to 9.48 per cent in 1912-13, or 

 an average of 9.43 per cent for the decade ending with 1912-13. The 

 season for making cane sugar extends over a period of approximately 

 200 days, beginning in December and ending in June. However, 

 the average days in actual operation for all factories was 56 in 

 1912-13 and 49 in 1913-14. 



During the decade 1903-4 to 1913-14 there was an average of 22 

 cane-sugar factories of modern equipment and 13 trapiches, or small 

 mills, using the open-kettle process for making sugar. Of the 22 

 factories, an average of 17 were in operation and 5 were idle. Of 

 the 13 trapiches in existence, 9 were in operation and 4 were idle. 

 The beet factories made a poorer shoAving than the cane factories, 

 for the number decreased from 55 in 1903-4 to 45 in 1913-14, or an 

 average of 50 for the decade. Of the 50 factories, only 32. or 64 per 

 cent, were in operation, while 18, or 36 per cent, Avere idle. The 

 sugar industry in Spain for the last 15 years has been in a more or less 

 unsatisfactory condition owing to overproduction and the low prices 

 as compared with the cost of production. The loss of the Spanish 

 colonies in 1898 checked the imports of sugar and stimulated domestic 



