The Production of Sugar

The Production of Sugar

Describe the manufacturing processes on a typical sugar plantation before 1838;

Introduction

The burden of estate labour was borne by the slaves. Every stage of the sugar making process requires strenous labour and close supervison.

The slaves had the responsibility of clearing the land, dug the holes, planted the cane tops, and manured the fields.

As the canes grew, they weeded the fields, moulded the canes and stripped off the outer leaves.

Planting Time

Cane plants take about fifteen months to mature while rations take a shorter time- approximately one year or twelve months

The slaves worked until about eight or nine o'clock when they pause for breakfast which has been prepared by the elderly female slaves.

Harvest time

The field slaves are armed with their machetes, ready to cut the ripe canes.

They cut the canes in specific lengths known as fraggotts.

The slaves then place the cut canes in bundles tied with cane wisps and load them onto waiting carts called wains.

Kinds of Mill

There were three types of mills :

Water, Wind and Animal

Water mills were very efficient but expensive to install. They were best suited for areas with an abundant water supply.

Windmills had to be placed so as to catch both land and sea breezes.

Animal drawn mills were the most common type used but were slower.

Use the diagram below to provide the correct answer or complete the statements.

Multiple Choice

The manufacture of sugar began with slaves cutting cane in

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

Cut can were transported in carts called wains to the

• A

• C

• B

• D

Multiple Choice

The extracted cane juice is sent to the __________ , where a series of copper boilers each one smaller than the other.

• A

• B

• C

• D

• E

Multiple Choice

After the sugar was cooled it was shovelled into hogsheds with small holes at the bottom.

• B

• C

• E

• H

Multiple Choice

In the distillery ( Still House), molasses, inferior cane juice were mixed and left to ferment for at least a week

• i

• G

• H

• F

Multiple Choice

Hogsheads were then sealed and made ready for shipment to Europe

• G

• H

• I