Java, with her population of more than thirty millions, presents altogether different conditions to the sugar grower than other cane-producing countries. A large proportion of the agricultural area is needed for crops of food to nourish the inhabitants. The land available for sugar cane is rented at an equitable figure and, as has been said, there is always an ample supply of cheap and readily obtainable labor. The aim of the Javan planter is to produce cane carrying a high sugar content and to get as great a yield as possible. To this end, unceasing attention is paid to cultivation, fertilizing and the general well-being of the crop; in other words, the soil is worked for all there is in it.

While the scientists of the country are absorbed in the task of producing through cross-culture new species of cane that will give a heavier yield per acre with a higher sugar content and greater purity, the agriculturists are opening up extensive fresh tracts of rice and cane land. New irrigation projects play an important part in this development and everything points to a steady growth of the industry.

The following table shows the annual output since 1840 in tons of 2240 pounds:

184046,296
184145,176
184250,320
184355,544
184462,419
184589,526
184686,263
184781,431
184888,512
1849103,445
185085,153
1851118,443
185274,806
1853109,961
1854110,323
1855102,321
1856123,124
1857104,479
1858130,725
1859131,571
1860134,001
1861134,726
1862142,755
1863129,716
1864138,009
1865135,714
1866140,042
1867130,947
1868175,960
1869179,579
1870150,184
1871187,851
1872205,992
1873195,924
1874198,318
1875190,576
1876234,111
1877241,930
1878221,140
1879229,616
1880212,763
1881274,796
1882287,392
1883319,574
1884388,019
1885374,041
1886350,397
1887369,847
1888349,719
1889327,735
1890393,680
1891400,372
1892415,332
1893472,082
1894522,574
1895572,381
1896525,947
1897577,036
1898713,575
1899750,400
1900732,498
1901791,046
1902882,966
1903929,880
19041,038,373
19051,022,759
19061,050,926
19071,191,007
19081,222,262
19091,227,553
19101,258,222
19111,443,397
19121,331,180
19131,345,230
19141,303,045
19151,264,000
19161,500,000[87]

AUSTRALIA

The island-continent of Australia lies south of Asia, between the Indian and Pacific oceans, and it extends from 10 degrees 41 minutes to 39 degrees 8 minutes south latitude and from 113 degrees to 153 degrees 30 minutes east longitude. Its area is 2,974,581 square miles and the population, not including aborigines, is 4,455,005, mainly of British origin.

Dutch and Spanish explorers visited Australia in 1606. On April 19, 1770, its eastern coast was first sighted by Cook, who, nine days later, dropped anchor in Botany bay. Sailing north, he touched at several points, and after having completed a survey of the east coast, he took possession of the territory between 38 degrees south and 10 degrees 30 minutes south. He reached Australia again in 1772 and in 1777 he landed on the coasts of Tasmania and New Zealand. The first settlement was established at Port Jackson in 1788 and gold was discovered in 1851. The commonwealth of Australia comprises the following political divisions: Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory, Western Australia and Tasmania.

As over 90 per cent of Australia’s sugar crop comes from Queensland, this article will deal with the growth and condition of the industry in that state only. Queensland has an area of 668,497 square miles, of which 920,010 acres were under cultivation in 1913; of this, 147,743 acres were planted with sugar cane.