Tne most interesting feature in Mr. Kleinwachter's report on the trade of Swatow for the past year is the account he gives of the Sugar trade. This is by tar the most important local industry—supplying us it does three quarters of the total export trade. The figares of 1869 show a decrease from 1868; bat the fact is attributed simply to a decrease in cultivation caused by the low prices of the latter year. The chief interes: lies in the account given of the mode of production, tind in the probability that the trade might be greatly extended if an improved system of mauafactare were introduced. At present, this is of the most primitive kind.
"he mill used for pressing the cane is of a very simple construction, consisting of two rollers of hardwood, through which the cane is drawn by cog-wheels, turned bygone for more buffaloes. The rollers are placed sufficiently close together to press the cane and extract the juice. The cane is sent through them twice, and the juice flows through a drain leading from the atill into jars, - From these jars it is ladled into an iron tank and boiled, until the juice is quite thick like molasses, being constantly stirred whilst boiling, and all dirt rising to the surface is carefully removed. This boiled juice is then poured into certain jars with small plugged hole in the bottom of each, and when the jars are about eight-tenths full, the top is carefully closed over with earth, and the plug from the bottom is removed, The jars are then placed in the open air, where they remain for from 30 to 40 days according to the weather, until the contents are quite dry. The Sugar so obtained is divided into three grades: the first, or uppermost in the jar, being White the middle Green jy Hi, and the lowermost Brown Sugar, fay The drippings, which are merely left in the mun to dry, give the Black Sugar 54 ff,""
These mills are of the radest construction, and the process of refining is equally pr The highest appears tobe what is called the "claying" process, and is thus described. The coe is ground, and the juice is partially clarified; it is then boiled to a certain consistency and transferred into conical earthenware vessels, which are inverted into other pans to drain, moist clay being placed at the base. Eventually, the sugar is shaken free from the cone, and is found to con sist of three or four grades, varying from coarse to so-called best white. It is in the establishment of a sugar refinery at Swatow, that the best prospect apars to open, Interminable difficulties Pao doubt be introduced by mill.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.