234 



German Potato Products. 



reached an unusually high figure during the latter months of 

 1897. As already noted, moist potato-starch was in great 

 demand last autumn by German liquid grape-sugar factories' 

 and the consequence was that grape sugar experienced a 

 rise in price. It appears that, owing to improvements 

 recently introduced in the production of liquid grape-sugar, 

 this article is now very largely employed in the manufacture 

 of sweetmeats and confectionery of a superior kind. The 

 large demand last year is, however, principally ascribed to 

 the deficiency in the German fruit crop, and also to a lack of 

 sugar in the lower class German wines of the 1897 vintage, 

 as well as to the limited yield of honey in most parts of 

 Germany. These deficiencies are ascribed to the small amount 

 of sunshine during the summer. 



At the beginning' of 1 897 prices for 44 degree prime grape 

 sugar stood at lis. 5d. to lis. 8d. per cwt., while at the 

 end of the year they were is. per cwt. higher. 



According to the latest returns, the annual production of 

 grape-sugar in Germany during recent years has been as 



follows (years ending 31st July) : — 



Years. 



Liquid. 



Solid. 





Cwts, 



Cwts. 



1889-1890 . - - - 



681,295 



3+5,325 



1890-1891 - - . - 



546,205 



211,646 



1891-1892 . - - - 



228,892 



69,791 



1892-1893 ... - 



552,536 



170,632 



I 893-1 894 - - . - 



519,681 



155,493 



1894-5895 - - - - 



486, 100 



134,878 



1895-1898 - . - - 



622,040 



1^7,420 



1896-1897 . - - - 



685,053 



124,019 



The quantities of grape sugar exported in 1897 eight 

 previous calendar years have been as follows : — 



Year. 



Liquid. 



Solid. 







Cwts. 



Cwts. 



1889 





137,445 



136,956 



1890 





210, 124 



176,884 



1891 





68,365 



50,500 



1892 





26,266 



17,111 



1893 





41,374 



40,794 



1894 





69,304 



44,022 



1895 





54,690 



33,699 



1896 





46,186 





1897 





28,103 



20,012 



