now be seen in the ascendant until we shall have reached the full amount required for the consumption of the United States, which, at present, is not under 350,000,000 lbs. Until 1831, it was the general belief that Louisiana sugars were too weak for refining. Questioned upon this subject on the floor of Congress, the late Messrs. Edward Livingston and Josiah Johnson were compelled to confess that it was So. This supplied Messrs. Lea and other politicians of the east, with a most powerful argument to demand a reduction of the duty on sugars imported for refining, to wit: that no protection ought to be asked by Louisiana against an article it could not produce. This would have been a fatal blow to this state. At that epoch, however, Gordon and Forstall had just introduced into the state the vacuo process of Howard, and the argument of Mr. Lea and supporters was met by shipments of several hundred tons of sugar, refined from pure Louisiana, which obtained the medal in New-York. This, for the time being, put an effectual end to the crusade preparing against Louisiana. Five or six years ago, two of our planters adopted the same process, and they have been eminently successful; not less than six estates are now upon the white system plan; and such are the improvements now going on, and the skill brought into action, that it requires no prophet to predict, that but few years can now elapse before Louisiana shall have it in her power to supply the whole Union with white sugars directly from the cane.- -E. J. Forstall. SUGAR OF FLORIDA.-The Jacksonville Florida News remarks: "We are happy to perceive that very general attention is being awakened to the vast profit which results to the cultivation of the sugar-cane in Florida. The climate and the atmosphere give us advantages over Louisiana, and there is no doubt that sugar can be made here equal in quality to any in the world. "We extract the following paragraph from the National Intelligencer of the 25th ultimo. The cane to which it alludes, exhibited in the capitol, was some that was taken on by Hon. D. L. Yulee, senator of that state. We saw this cane when he passed through Jacksonville, and, although it is large, it is by no means of the size which it usually attains in good soil. We trust it will have the effect to enlighten those who have hitherto supposed that the sugar-cane was only grown in Louisiana. "The sugar region in Florida extends from the 30th to the 25th degree of latitude. It comprises within its limits a large amount of very fine land. The climate of the most northern portion of it has, we understand, an advantage of six weeks in the duration of the growing season over any other sugar growing portion of the United States; and in the southernmost parts of the peninsula there is an entire exemption from frost. The eane is tasseled this season throughout the peninsula, a degree of maturity it does not attain in Louisiana or Texas. The lands are at present cheap, say from $1 25 (the price of public lands) to $10 per acre. There are numerous rivers affording easy transportation on both sides the peninsula. Public sales of some of the state lands will take place in February next. These lands have been carefully selected by agents in bodies of half a section (320 acres,) and are generally well situated for the sugar culture. A sample of the Florida cane of this year, now to be seen at the capitol, is between ten and eleven feet long, entirely divested of top, and was cut nearly a month ago, before it had attained its proper growth. Still larger canes than this, however, are grown in Florida." The St. Augustine Herald gives the following interesting statement of the produce of 1 3-4 acres of land at Moccasin Branch, in St. John's county, which had been planted in cane by Mr. Paul Masters. "10 barrels of sugar, 250 lbs. each, at 6 cents. 100 gallons molasses, at 25 cents... 37 1-2 bushels of corn, at $1. Cane sold.. $150 00 25 00 37 50 20 00 $232 50 "This is at the rate of one hundred and thirty-three dollars to the acre, and was produced from high pine barren land, cowpenned. Mr. Masters is a poor man, without any negroes, and had only the assistance of a son of 18 years of age, to obtain the above together with an excellent crop of corn, peas and potatoes. Mr. Masters made his own mill, and boiled the juice down in a common pot in the open air. "Mr. Francis Rogero, from 1 1-4 acres of same quality of land obtained fifteen barrels of syrup and two barrels of sugar. In value: 465 gallons syrup, at 31 cents.... 500 lbs. sugar, at 6 cents.. $144 15 30 00 $174 15 "This is at the rate of $139 32 to the acre. When it is considered that this is the produce of the poorest quality of land, and that the sugar was manufactured in the rudest manner, no one can doubt that the sugar cane alone should be cultivated by the planters of Florida. There are hundreds of thousands of acres of the richest land in this state lying in small bodies, of from 100 to 1000 acres, which might produce far more abundantly than the above." SUGAR-ITS PRODUCTION AND HISTORY. -Every day brings new evidences of the extension of the sugar culture in our country. In those parishes of Louisiana which have hitherto been exclusively cotton, the substitution of this staple is becoming rapid, and can only be checked by a rise in the value of its rival. Texas, with her abundant sugar lands, has already upward of forty estates in operation, and produced last year over ten thousand hhds. The culture is reviving in Florida, and being adopted on a small scale in parts of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. Doubtless, the insecurity of the lands upon the Mississippi will exercise an adverse influence. We have seen intelligent gentlemen, from the vicinity of Vera Cruz, who state that great improvements are taking place in the Mexican crops; and Mr. Poinsett stated, some months ago, in our Review, that, under a better government, the competition from this source would be very considerable. The crop in the British West Indies continues to decline, while in the Spanish colonies the reverse is the case. Should Cuba become independent, or be attached to the United States, it is not improbable her present crop would be doubled. It is now more than twice that of Louisiana. The consumption of sugar, all the world over, is increasing; and is stimulated by greater cheapness, growing out of rapid improvements in the culture and manufacture. In the result, the sugar from cane, from its superiority and economy, will drive out the competition of that from the beet and other plants. This gen cane, and one hhd. for ratoons. We have before us the admirable compilation, made by Mr. Champomier, of the sugar crop of Louisiana in 1849-50. It is a beautiful pamphlet, printed at the office of our friends of the New-Orleans Price Current. The price is five dollars, which, when one considers the immense pains and labor required, the enormous expense and small sale, will appear very reasonable. Mr. Champomier deserves every success, and should be rewarded by the support of the whole planting interest. His past labors have been appreciated at Washington. Without interfering with the copy-right of this pamphlet, but rather to influence its extension and sale, we will digest a few particulars, showing its character, &c., having already extracted some of its statistics. The Western Democrat, at Alexandria, Louisiana, is publishing a series of papers The sugar-cane is cultivated on both banks upon the extension of sugar culture in the of the Mississippi, from fifty-seven miles parish of Rapides, which are very interesting. below New Orleans to nearly one hundred This is a new epoch in the history of the and ninety miles above; on Red River, instaple. It appears that at a very early period cluding Rapides and Avoyelles, the last of attempts were made near Natchitoches, but which produced, last year, 3,874 hhds.; on without success. In 1824 Timothy Flint bayous Lafourche and tributaries, bayou suggested the sugar culture in this region. Terrebonne, Little and Great Caillou, bayou In 1829 General Thomas made the experi- Black, Teché, Sale, Atchafalaya and tributament, and continued it four years, producing, ries, Berwick bay, bayou Boeuf, bayou Verat last, three hundred and three hhds. F. A. million; the prairies of St. Martin, VermilBynum, George Gordon, John G. Young and lion, &c.; Saint Landry, Calcasieu, bayou William Dunwoody, also attempted it. An Courtableau, Toulouse, &c., &c. Whole extraordinary frost, the low price of sugar number of sugar parishes, 24; number of and inflation of cotton, the deficiency of ma- sugar-houses, 1,536; number by steam, 865; chinery rendering slow the process of manu- the rest by horse. Crop 1849-50, 247,923 facture, tended to discourage, and, at last, hhds., or 269,769,900 lbs., including cistern to put an end to the experiments. Things bottoms, used by the refiners. This, at an so remained until 1845, when E. H. Flint average of 3 cents, amounts to $9,441,915; set the ball again in motion. He built a splen- the quantity of molasses was 12,000.000 did sugar-house, made one hundred and sixty gallons, at 20, which amounts to $2,400,000; hhds., and seed for two hundred acres in total, $11,841,915,, or an average to each of 1847. Out of this seed, &c, the crop was the 1,455 working sugar-houses of 88,148. five hundred and forty-one hhds.; and in It is impossible to give the number of slaves 1848, seven hundred and sixty-four hhds. employed, though the reader will find, in vol. That of 1849 was lost by the overflow. The vi., page 456, of the Review, some interestaverage yield was two hhds. an acre for plant ing calculations in this particular. Sixty two new plantations will produce next year, and nineteen the year after. This latter number will, no doubt, be much increased. The overflow on the Mississippi and Red rivers, last year, shortened the crop near 20,000 hhds., and will be greatly felt for several years to come. St. Mary's produced the largest number of hhds.,-24,000 and over. of the Christian era, alludes (Epis. 84) to the sugar-cane in a manner which shows that he knew next to nothing of sugar, and absolutely nothing of the manner in which it is prepared and obtained from the cane. Of the ancients, Dioscorides and Pliny have given the most precise description of sugar. The former says, it is" a sort of concreted honey, found upon canes, in India and Arabia Felix; it is in consistence teeth." And Pliny describes it as "honey collected from canes, like a gum, white and brittle between the teeth; the largest is of the size of a hazel nut; it is used in medicine only." (Saccharum et Arabia fert, sed laudatius India; est autem mel in arundinibus collectum, gummium modo candidum, dentibus fragile, amplissimum nucis avellanæ magni-. tudine, ad medicinal tantum usum.-Lib. xii. c. 8.) We cordially recommend Mr. Champomier's pamphlet to every reader of the Re-like salt, and is, like it, brittle, between the view, and express our high indebtedness to him for a copy, and for the privilege of making the above general statements upon his authority. The planters and merchants of Louisiana should take pride in supporting an annual publication so valuable. We extract, in conclusion, his instructive remarks, upon the contribution, made by Louisiana, to the industry of the nation : "There have been put up, in this state, since 1846, including the present year, not less than 355 sugar mills and engines, furnished by the following foundries, viz.: Cincinnati foundries-J. Nyles & Co. 199, James Goodloe & Co. 45, David Grifye 37; Pittsburgh foundries-Arthur Armstrong & Co. 3, Jackson, Whiteman & Co. 32, Knapp & Totton 2besides vacuum apparatus this latter firm has furnished already, and are now under contract, for the coming crop, for 8 or 10, perhaps more; Richmond (Va.) foundry-J. R. Anderson, proprietor, 7; Baltimore (Md.) foundry-Wells & Miller, proprietors, 4; Louisville (Ky.) foundry-James Curry, proprietor, 3; Belleville iron works (Algiers, La.) 2; Phenix foundry, Gretna-Silvester Bennett, proprietor, 6; Leeds & Co., New-Orleans, 10; the Novelty Iron Works, of New-York-5 sugar mills and engines, 6 Durone's patent copper condensers, a good number of vacuum pans, and a considerable quantity of Stillman's patent clarifiers, evaporating and granulating pans. Philadelphia has furnished, and keeps furnishing, apparatus which I have lost sight of, making an aggregate of 355 mills and engines, of which, at least, 120 have replaced old ones. A great many horse-power mills have been made by the abovenamed foundries, more particularly by Goodloe, Grifye, and S. Bennett. However, the latter, as is the case with our local foundries, made but little new work, comparatively speaking; the repairs they have to make every season, more particularly during grinding, when breakage so frequently occurs to the machinery, keeps them at work day and night." We append, from an able English writer, the following historical sketch of sugar, which the reader will observe was written as long ago as 1832 or 1833; but it can readily be completed to date by inspection of the eight published volumes of our Review: Historical Notice of Sugar.-The history of sugar is involved in a great deal of obscurity. It was very imperfectly known by the Greeks and Romans. Theophrastus, who lived about three hundred and twenty years before the Christian era, the first writer whose works have come down to us, by whom it is mentioned, calls it a sort of honey extracted from canes or reeds." Strabo states, on the authority of Nearchus, Alexander's admiral, that " reeds in India yield honey without bees." And Seneca, who was put to death in the sixty-fifth year It is evident, from these statements, that the knowledge of the Greeks and Romans, with respect to the mode of obtaining sugar, was singularly imperfect. They appear to have thought that it was found adhering to the cane, or that it issued from it in the state of juice, and then concreted like gum. Indeed, Lucan expressly alludes to Indians near the Ganges: Quinque bibunt tenera dulces ab arundine succos.-Lib. iii. 1., 237. But these statements are evidently without foundation. Sugar cannot be obtained from the cane without the aid of art. It is never found native. Instead of flowing from the plant, it must be forcibly expressed, and then subjected to a variety of processes. Dr. Mosely conjectures, apparently with much probability, that the sugar described by Pliny and Dioscorides, as being made use of at home, was sugar-candy obtained from China. This, indeed, is the only sort of sugar to which their descriptions will at all apply. And it would seem that the mode of preparing sugar-candy has been understood and practised in China from a very remote antiquity; and that large quantities of it have been in all ages exported to India, whence, it is most probable, small quantities found their way to Rome (Treatise on Sugar, 2d edit., p. 66-71. This, as well as Dr. Mosely's treatise on coffee, is a very learned and able work.) Europe seems to be indebted to the Saracens, not only for the first considerable supplies of sugar, but for the earliest example of its manufacture. Having, in the course of the ninth century, conquered Rhodes, Cyprus, Sicily and Crete, the Saracens introduced into them the sugar cane, with the cultivation and preparation of which they were familiar. It is mentioned, by the Venetian historians, that their countrymen imported, in the twelfth century, sugar from Sicily, at a cheaper rate than they could import it from Egypt.-(Essai de l'Historie du Commerce de Venise, p. 100.) The Crusades tended to spread a taste for sugar throughout the western world; but there can be no doubt that it was cultivated, as now stated, in modern Europe, antecedently to the era of the Crusades; and that it was also previously imported by the Venetians, Amalphitans, and others, who carried on a commercial intercourse, from a very remote epoch, with Alexandria and other cities in the Levant. It was certainly imported into Venice in 996.-(See the Essai, &c., p. 70.) The art of refining sugar, and making what is called loaf sugar, is a modern European invention, the discovery of a Venetian about the end of the fifteenth, or the beginning of the sixteenth century.-(Mosely, p. 66.) The Saracens introduced the cultivation of the sugar-cane into Spain soon after they obtained a footing in that country. The first plantations were at Valencia; but they were afterward extended to Granada and Murcia. Mr. Thomas Willoughby, who traveled over a great part or Spain, in 1664, has given an interesting account of the state of the Spanish sugar plantations, and of the mode of manufacturing the sugar. Plants of the sugar-cane were carried by the Spaniards and Portuguese to the Canary Island and Madeira, in the early part of the fifteenth century; and it has been asserted by many, that these islands furnished the first plants of the sugar-cane that ever grew in America. But though it is sufficiently established, the Spaniards early conveyed plants of the sugar-cane to the new world, there can be no doubt, notwithstanding Humboldt seems to incline to the opposite opinion, (Essai Politique sur la Nouvelle Espagne.-Liv. iv. c. 10,) that this was a work of supererogation, and that the cane was indigenous, both to the American continent and islands. It was not for the plant itself, which flourished spontaneously in many parts when it was discovered by Columbus, but for the secret of making sugar from it, that the New World is indebted to the Spaniards and Portuguese, and these to the nations of the East. (See Lafitau Moeurs des Sauvages, tome ii, p. 150; Edwards's West Indies, vol. ii, p. 238.) Barbadoes is the oldest settlement of the English in the West Indies. They took possession of it in 1627, and so early as 1646 began to export sugar. In 1676, the trade of the Barbadoes is said to have attained its maximum, being then capable of employing four hundred sail of vessels, averaging one hundred fifty tons burden. Jamaica was discovered by Columbus, in his second voyage, and was first occupied by the Spaniards. It was wrested from them by an expedition sent against it by Cromwell in 1656; and has since continued in our possession, forming by far the most valuable of our West Indian colonies. At the time when it was conquered, there were only three small sugar plantations upon it. But, in consequence of the influx of English settlers from Barbadoes and the mother country, fresh plantations were speedily formed, and continued rapidly to increase. The sugar-cane is said to have been first cultivated in St. Domingo, or Hayti, in 1506. It succeeded better there than in any of the West Indian Islands. Peter Martyr, in a work published in 1530, states, that, in 1518, there were twenty-eight sugar works in St. Domingo established by the Spaniards, "It is marvelous," says he, "to consider how all things increase and prosper in the island. There are now twenty-eight sugar presses, wherewith great plenty of sugar is made. The canes or reeds wherein the sugar groweth are bigger and higher than in any other place; and are as big as a man's wrist, and higher than the stature of a man by the half. This is more wonderful, that whereas, in Valencia, in Spain, where a great quantity of sugar is made yearly, whensoever they apply themselves to the great increase thereof, yet doth every root bring forth not past five or six, or at most seven, of these reeds; whereas, in St. Domingo, one root beareth twenty, and oftentimes thirty."-Eng. trans. p. 172. Sugar from St. Domingo formed, for a very long period, the principal part of the European supplies. Previously to its devastation, in 1790, no fewer than sixty-five thousand tons of sugar were exported from the French portion of the island. Sources from whence the Supply of Sugar is derived.-The West Indies, Brazil, Surinam, Java, Mauritius, Bengal, Siam, the Isle de Bourbon, and the Philipines, are the principal sources whence the supplies required for the European and American markets are derived. The average quantities exported from these countries during each of the three years ending with 1833, were nearly as follows: British West Indies, including Demerara and Berbice... Mauritius. tons 190,000 30,000 Bengal, Isle de Bourbon, Java, Siam, Philip ines, &c. Cuba and Porto Rico. 60,000 110,000 95,000 75,000 560,000 Loaf or lump sugar is unknown in the East-sugar-candy being the only species of refined sugar that is made use of in India, China, &c. The manufacture of sugar-candy is carried on in Hindoostan, but the process is extremely rude and imperfect. In China, however, it is manufactured in a very superior manner, and large quantities are exported. When of the best description, it is in large, white crystals, and is a very beautiful article. Two sorts of sugar-candy are met with at Canton, viz., Chinchew and Canton -the former being the produce of the province of Fokien, and the latter, as its name implies, of that of Canton. The Chinchew is by far the best, and is about fifty per cent. dearer than the other. Chinese sugar-candy is consumed, to the almost total exclusion of any other species of sugar by the Europeans, at the different settlements throughout the East. There were exported from Canton, in 1831-32, by British ships, 32,279 piculs (38,427 cwt.) of sugar-candy, valued at $243,000, and 60,627 piculs (72,175 cwt.) of IMPORTS. clayed sugar, valued at $318,256; and, during the previous year, the exports were about fifty per cent. greater, (see vol. i, page 302-303.) The exports by the American are also considerable. At an average, the exports of sugar from Canton may be taken at from six to ten thousand tons; but of this only a small quantity finds its way to Europe. The exports from Siam and Cochin-China are estimated at about twelve thousand five hundred tous. Consumption of Sugar in Europe, &c.Mr. Cook gives the following table of the imports of sugar into France, and the principal continental ports, in 1831, 1832, and 1833, and of the stock on hand on the 31st of December of each of these years : STOCK 31st DECEMBER. This table does not, however, give the ten, Konigsberg, Riga, Stockholm, Gottenimports into many of the ports of the Pen-burgh. It is, besides, very difficult, owing insula; but the consumption of Spain, only, to transhipments from one place to another, has been estimated, apparently on good accurately to estimate the real amount of grounds, by Montveran, (Essai de Statistique the imports. On the whole, however, we sur les Colonies, page 92,) at 45,000,000 believe that we shall be within the mark, if kilog. (41,050 tons.) This may appear large we estimate those for the whole continent for a country in the situation of Spain, but at from 285,000 to 310,000 tons, including the quantity is deduced from comparing the what is sent from England. imports with the exports; and it is explained partly by the moderation of the duties, and partly by the large consumption of cocoa, and other articles that require a corresponding consumption of sugar. Mr. Cook's table also omits the imports into Leghorn, Naples, Palermo, and other Italian ports. Neither does it give those into Set The following table, compiled from the best authorities, exhibits the total consumption of colonial and foreign sugars in France, at different periods, since 1788, with the population, and the average consumption of each individual (see Montveran, Essai de Statistique, page 96, and the authorities there referred to): Individual Consumption .906 kilog. .813 44 1788. Population 23,600,000.. .272 |