1 Ava., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 149 
PURCHASE OF CANE BY DENSITY. 
By R DUPONT. 
(TRANSLATED By A. J. Boyp.) 
Tne March number of the Revue Agricole, published inthe Mauritius, contains 
a remarkable article on the use of the saccharometer in the purchase of cane 
Y sugar manufacturers. Although we do not endorse the ideas of Mr. R. 
Dupont, still, as a highly certificated chemist, holding the diploma of the Ecole 
Nationale de Grignon, we think that his ideas are entitled to consideration by 
all who are interested in the purchase and sale of sugar-cane. Mr. Dupont’s 
address is as follows :— 
For several years planters have exhibited a great tendency to reduce 
their plantations and to fill the requirements of their mills by purchasing 
tom the small growers. They have, as you know, the bad habit of 
establishing a uniform price for the raw material, irrespective of the variety of 
canes which they purchase, or of the then state of the market. They aim at 
Co-operation with their neighbours, without considering the more than 
advantageous situation in which they place the small planters, who, asa rule, 
are not bound by contract, and who are naturally anxious to sell their cane at 
& price above its real value. But there is such a divergence between the 
saccharine content of different varieties of cane, and also between that of canes 
of the same variety cut at different times, that one is constrained to ask oneself 
if the interests of the planters are not often injured in consequence of a bargain 
made at a bad time of the year. ; 
Thus it is not an uncommon circumstance for sugar manufacturers to pay 
5 rs. per 500 kilos (equal to about 15s. per ton) for cane during the month of 
August, when searcely any cane has arrived at maturity. The Port McKay, 
or example, at this season of the year contains only about 11 per cent. of 
Sugar, and in rainy seasons even 10 and 9°50 per cent. Of this 11 per cent. 
the manufacturer can reckon on about 7:25 of marketable sugar, and from 
canes yielding 9°50 per cent. the return barely exceeds 6°25 per cent. Reckon- 
Ing the price of sugar at Srs. per 100 Ib., the respective return is 5°80 rs. and 
5-00 rs. per 1,000 lb. of cane, from which must be deducted about 1:20 rs. on 
Account of cost of manufacture. 
On the other hand, there are occasions when the manufacturer may make a 
large profit, when, for instance, they purchase the Lousier cane at full maturity. 
this variety gives ordinarily a percentage of 15°50, and even of 16-00, of 
Saccharine matter towards the end of November in our district. When the 
manufacturers pay, as above shown, 5rs. per 1,000 Ib. of cane, and this cane 
produces 10°50 per cent. of its weight in sugar, which at 8 rs. per 100 1b. gives 
8401s. as the result of the 1,000 Ib., it is clear that a handsome profit must be 
made over and above the cost of production. But ‘it is important to notice 
that transactions between the small proprietors and the manufacturers are rare 
at this time of the year, because, as a rule, the former, being in need of money 
owing to their precarious circumstances, apply to the latter as early as possible 
and long before their crop has matured. On the other hand, the small 
Stowers, not having always at their disposal a large quantity of fertilisers, and 
Cultivating as they do at a minimum expense, prefer to accelerate the date of 
arvesting in order to get their ratoons as much advanced as possible, because 
eir growth is slow owing to the want of manure. 
The purchase of cane then takes place at the earliest date of cutting, in 
almost every part of the island, and, consequently, the manufacturers are 
thee at a loss on account of the low density of the juice of canes cut at 
1s time. 
To put an end to this state of affairs, and more especially to induce 
Planters to cultivate canes rich in saccharine matter in preference to poor 
“anes, it has been proposed to purchase cane ata price varying as the density 
ot the juice. This proposal, doubtless an excellent one, when carried out 
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