308 



[October, 1912. 



Mr. Frank Evans conceived the idea of tapping Castilloa by means 

 of a great number of punctures spread over the surface of the tree to A 

 height of 8 or 10 feet. This system, though it had the merit of giving a 

 good yield, which varied from f to 2| lbs. dry rubber per tree at a single 

 tapping, repulted in damage as the wounds showed a rough edge and 

 healed badly. Another object was the cost of manual labour which, it 

 has been suggested, might be overcome by using a small portable engine 

 worked by compressed air and connected with the tool by rubber tubing. 



It is thought that the tapping of the future is likely to be effected by 

 the aid of steam or electrical apparatus. 



THE SUGAR CONVENTION. 



The English Government have notified the country that they intend 

 to give notice in September of their withdrawal from the Brussels Sugar 

 Convention in September, lyl3. It will be remembered that this Conven- 

 tion bound the then Government in 1902 to impose a special duty on sugar 

 imported from foreign countries, or to prohibit the importation of 

 bounty-fed sugar. The agreement was renewed in 1907 for a further term 

 of five years subject, however, to the provision that Great Britain was 

 from September 1st, 1908, to be relieved from the obligation to impose a 

 special sugar duty or prohibit the importation of the bounty-fed article. 

 The withdrawal will, it is hoped, remove one of the obstacles to the 

 abolition of the existing import duty on sugar. The continental con- 

 sumption of sugar has increased to 54 per cent, since 1902 when the Conven- 

 tion was signed: the decrease in consumption in Great Britain has 

 fallen to 3 per cent. The average increase in the cost of sugar since the 

 establishment of the Convention has been about fd. a pound. 



Those in favour of withdrawing from the Convention quote the fol- 

 lowing figures showing how disappointing the results have been to the 

 industry in the West Indies where so much was expected. 



In 1902 the production of sugar in the islands was 3,599,914 cwt., in 

 1910 it was only 2,SS3,972 cwt. though once in 1906 it had reached 3,663,725 

 cwt. In British Guiana the production in 1902 was 2,402,533 cwt : and in 

 1903 2,518,989 cwt. In 1910 it only reached 2,019,691 cwt. 



The question of Tea Duty which Sir J. D. Rees proposed should be 

 lowered from 5eZ. to 3d. was another product which wa3 discussed in the 

 House of Commons.— Tropical Life, August 1912. 



SUGARCANE CROP OF THE PUNJAB FOR THE YEAR 1912. 



[Eighteen districts are dealt with.] 



On an average of five years ending 1910-11, the area under sugarcane 

 in the Punjab has represented some 15 7 per cent, of the total area under- 

 sugarcane in British India. 



The area sown with sugarcane is 295,800 acres compared with 341,600 

 acres estimated in the first forecast and 292,300 acres finally reported 

 last year. This means a very nearly average crop ; which is generally in 

 good condition. The district reports call for no special remarks. 



