The Sugar Cane Industry

The Department of Agriculture ut Washington bas issued a special report saowiiig the condition and prospects of the sugar cano industry in the United States. The annual average of imported sugar and molasscs for the last three years is $8,393,091. Thé large reduction in conamption in 1S7C, as compared with the three years immediately preceding, is atvibuted to the economy pracüced by the nasses on account of the stringency of the time?, and the fact that there was an estiraated falling oCf of about 200,000 tons in the sugar-produeing countries from the erop of the preeeding year, which caused ín average ad vanee of about a half a cent per pound in the selling price. The report says that in view of the demónstratele fact that the capaeity of the sugar belt of the United States is sufficient not only Mly to supply domestic needs, but also. under proper stimulants, to créate a trade of export, it would scem gross uhwisdom, if not, indeed, criminal negleet, to omit ffort in the direction of fostering an interest of so grèat financial and economical importance. It is, moreover, a plairi propositiou that tu profitably mercase the production of ono necessary commodity istodivert labor from the over production of aootber, thusadding to the general i tv. Thus, we fijad through orr correspondent s that in most parts of the South the corn and rice fields, and even some of the cotton áreas, are not so remunerative as formerly. Diversity of crops is the requirement, both on account of the soil and the profitable employment ot capital and labor. There is no fault found by sugar planters with the piïces received for ther produce. The profits are indeed extraordinary, when the scarcity of labor and the unmethodical and crudo methods of cultivation and canemanipulation are taken into consideration. The surnmary of the correspondence of tbe planters with the department shows lliat the United States is paying annually to other nations, immense sums of money for a staple article for consumption which, tlie proper encouragemei: . and support being afforded, might be produced ;t home; that an improved systein of labor involving the división and the eultivation f the smaller tracts by indiviüiu.: ownérs and a more thorough' arid scien'tífic fiándling of the cauer_w;anLL y-iai-gely inreasc the sugar product, and go far to"vard keeping pace with the annually inweasing demand of the whole country. - Philadelphia Press.