r
and the following year it was only a fourth. Italy's crop was 25 per
cent less in 1916-17 than before the war and the estimated yield for
this year is 50 per cent less. England, of course, can no longer get
sugar from the continent.

So the allied world must import cane-sugar or have almost no sugar
at all. The cane-sugar supply is largely dependent on shipping. Ships
cannot be spared to go to the East. Therefore the sugar of Cuba and
the rest of the West Indies, our main source of supply, must be shared
with the Allies. It is to the credit of all involved that every effort
is being made to see that the division is a fair one. A commission
representing the Allies, the United States, and Cuba apportioned the
1917-18 Cuban crop and fixed its price. Competitive bidding by the
many purchasers, with the danger of forcing up the price of the
limited supply, was in this way prevented.

THE EFFECT OF THE SHORTAGE

The rations of Europe are the most convincing evidence of the extent
of the sugar shortage. In England 1/2 pound a week is allowed for each
person, half the average amount used in their households before the
war. France had sugar cards long before she had any other ration.
Seven ounces a week were allowed, and later in the year only
one-quarter of a pound. Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1918 had an
average household ration of 6 ounces a week.

The United States in accordance with its usual method is asking
the individual for voluntary conservation of sugar. Each household
is asked to observe a voluntary weekly ration of not more than
three-quarters of a pound per person. Extra amounts of sugar for home
canning may be secured by making a certified declaration to the dealer
that it is to be used only for canning and preserving.

Food manufacturers using sugar are dealt with more strictly than
private individuals. Every business using sugar may purchase it only
on certificates obtained from the Federal Food Administrators. At
present manufacturers of essential products such as canned vegetables
and fruits may get the amount needed to fill their necessary
requirements. Manufacturers of less essential products get a
percentage of what they used before--at present soft-drink and candy
manufacturers get 50 per cent and ice-cream makers 75 per cent.

The decreased use of sugar has resulted in the release of the ships
which had been used to bring Cuban sugar to this country--50,000 tons
freed to carry men and munit