105 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY IN JAMAICA. 



The following Memorandum by Mr. F. Watts, late Government 

 Analytical and Agricultural Chemist of Jamaica, on the subject of the 

 Sugar Industry of the Colony, has been published in the Jamaica 

 Gazette : — 



Mr. F. Watts to the Colonial Secretary, Jamaica. 



Barbados, May 15th, 1899. 



Sir, — It has been suggested to me that it may prove of service if, 

 on leaving Jamaica, I place before you some ideas which have occurred 

 to me in connection with the sugar industry of the Colony. 



(2) The advantages of the sugar industry to a colony are such that 

 it appears to be highly desirable that efforts should be made to preserve 

 this industry to Jamaica ; it is an industry with which a large section 

 of all grades of the community is familiar, both as regards the pro- 

 duction as well as the marketing of sugar ; it affords regular em- 

 ployment to a large number of people, and it is an industry for 

 which certain districts of Jamaica are eminently suited. Should the 

 industry once pass away from the colony its re-introduction would be a 

 matter of extreme difficulty. 



(3) At the present time the greater part of the sugar produced in 

 Jamaica is manufactured by the old aud wasteful Muscovado process in 

 small sugar works, most of which are imperfectly equipped. Although at 

 the moment of writing the price ot sugar is higher than it has been for 

 some years the views of those well calculated to form reliable opinions are, 

 that the price of sugar in future years will not be substantially higher 

 than it has been during the past decade. At these prices, and with the 

 system and appliances in vogue in Jamaica, sugar-growing during this 

 period has not been an attractive or remunerative business. It is highly 

 desirable therefore that means should be found for placing the industry 

 on a better footing if possible, and there is good reason to believe that 

 this may be accomplished. 



(4) The losses entailed by the Muscovado system of sugar making 

 may be briefly indicated thus : — 



Loss from imperfect crushing of the canes. 



Loss due to the imperfect recoverv or extraction of sugar from 

 the juice. 



Loss due to the production of low grade sugars fit onlv for the 

 refinery. 



These losses are those inseparable from the manufacture of sugar 

 in small works; they may be avoided by substituting for these small 

 works central factories sufficiently large to permit of the introduction of 

 machinery of the best and most economical type. 



(5) Taking the losses just referred to, there are very few instances 

 in which the actual crushing power of the Jamaica mills is accurately 

 known. (Trials made on small lots of cane, one ton for instance, 1 

 take to be of little value.) From what I can gather I believe the crushing 

 power varies greatly. I infer, however,that the mills in all probability do 



