Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1281317

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SUGAR-GROWING AT MARY-  

BOROUGH.

(From tho Maryborough Chronicle, March 6.)

THE cultivation of the sugar-oane has been oommenced in earnest on the banks of the Mary. We not long ago chronicled the for- mation of the Maryborough Sugar Company ¡ soon after this, of the erection by Messrs, Glad well and Greathead of a sugar faotory, for the crushing of the sugar-cane grown by our farmers. To-day wo chronicle another in teresting event in tho progress of this industry, in the manufacturing of sugar for the first time in quantity for sale.

The erection of this factory by Messrs. Glad well and Greathead has removed the principal obstacle out of the way of the general cultivation of the sugar cane by our farmers. Our farmers said, if we grow this plant we have not the capital to purchase the requisite ma- chinery to turn it to account, and we cannot afford to grow the cane on the mere speculation that somo enterprising capitalists will supply the machinery. This dilficulty was not met by tho formation of the Maryborough Sugar Company-whioh, probably, during tho first year or two of its manufacturing operations will have its maohinery free during part of the crushing season to crush cane grown by other planters in the neighbor- hood. Being growers, they will naturally give   attention to their own crop first ¡ and others will have to wait upon them, which might not always be convenient or profitable. But this obstacle, as we have said, no longer stands in the way ; the farmers are certain now of being able to turn their cane into sugar, and for their sugar there is the world's market. So soon as the supply of the farmer overtakes the capacity of this mill, there is no doubt other mills will be erected to manufaoture for the farmers, or they will have become themselves wealthy enough to put up mills of their own. All that was wanted was the start. The enterprise will now make its own way─capital will flow into it capital will be accumulated by it. There is nothing succeeds like success, and success has

been assured.

The season for crushing cane commences in August, but several farmors on the river having planted small patches of cane out of season, they had come to maturity out of season. Their density was low, there being only about

half the saccharine matter in tbem which would be present in the perfection of the oane; but it   was thought better to crush them and save what sugar they contained, than to lose all. During the last week or two the new mill has been set to work upon these canes. We make these re- marks lest the yield of the cane now being crushod should bo accepted, either in its quality or quantity, as a oriterion of the results of sugar-growing, which can be arrived at only at the proper season. But even the results of this first essay aro very interesting, and very encouraging. We have often seen on several occasions a few pounds of sugar mado by way of experiment ; we have now seen several tons mado for sale. Tho manufacture of sugar has become a fact, and on all sides we hear of clearing going on, and farmers preparing to go largely into this branch of agriculture.

We had the pleasure this week of visiting the faotory while the operations of cane-crushing and sugar-boiling were going on. Mr. Buhôt, who is superintending operations, accompanied us over the establishment, and courteousÍy ex plained to us the several processes. It would   require us to be very elaborate and scientific to describe these said processes so as to make them practically useful, and for this we have not space, nor would it be interesting to our general readers ; whilst tbose who aro curious to know the art of sugar-making, will go to those scientific treatises which will explain the subject more fully and clearly than we can pretend to. A sketch of the place and machinery is all that will be required of us.

The factory is situated about flve miles from Maryborough, on the Upper Mary, and is easy of access for the produce of a large number of farms—in fact, for all the farms having a river frontage. The cane is punted to the wharf, and thence placed at once on trucks capable of car- rying about a ton. A wire rope attaches these trucks to a drum connected with the engine, which, on a signal from below, is made to draw up the loaded truck on to a platform immediately in front of the mill. The ends of the cane are placed between the rollers, which greedily seizo upon them, drag them forward, and with a pres- sure of about sixty tons, express in abrief space every drop of moisture from them. Sufficient juice is collected in this manner to keep running a pretty large and constant stream into huge iron pans, where the first boiling takes place, After undergoing this process its due time, the juice is then conveyed into vats to settle, and the clear juice is then passed through another series of flve pans called "taches," where the boiling   continues until the whole is reduced to the con- sistency of a thick molasses. This is then trans- ferred to a granulator, to give it a rough grain, is then placed in coolers, and lastly removed to boxes with perforated bottoms, to admit of the drainage of the molasses. In these boxes we saw about a ton and a half of "cured" sugar,   and about the same quantity was on the way there. The sugar is dark, and it is estimated to be yielding about one and a half tons to tho acre. We have already explained why this must not be taken as a criterion of the quality or quantity of the yield of tho sugar cane in this district. The sugar, when thoroughly drained, will be packed securely in hundred- weight boxes, which the proprietors of the mill, owing to the facilities they possess, will bo able to supply as cheaply as bags are obtained in other sugar-producing countries. In connection with tho engine they have erected a saw-mill, and when not manufacturing sugar, the engine will not, therefore, be idle. The factory, Mr. Buhôt informed us, was capable of making sixty tons of sugar per week, working day and night. This is the capacity of the machinery—not an estimate of the returns, as by aome has been foolishly imagined.

The cane in the district, under the stimulus of the genial season we have been and are enjoying, is everywhero most luxu- riantly flourishing ; and if this propitious weather should continue till August, the cane that will then be ready for crushing will be in splendid condition, and the return

per acre of sugar will be very high. We are glad to hear that at that season the farmers will have, considering the uncertainty that ex- isted about the crushing part of the business some tweve months ago, a large quantity of cane for manufacture—it is estimated between eighty and ninety acres. The Sugar Company have about 150 acres under cultivation, of which, about ninoty acres will be ready for crushing, The company's machinery is now on its way out from Scotland, complete in every particular, of the very best design and construc- tion ; the cost of which, with necessary build- ings, will not be much less than £5000 by the time the mill is ready for work.

Sugar-making we look upon, then, now as an established industry ; we shall want more labor —suitable labor; but we do not apprehend there will be any difficulty on that score. As soon as the actual demand arises, if it does not itself cause a supply, means will soon be found

to meet tho want.

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