OUT of India's annual output of some 3,000,000 tons of crude sugar it is estimated that about 10 per cent, is derived from palms and about 4 per cent, from the date-palm, cultivated for this purpose in Bengal. Palm-sugar is obtained by making an incision in the soft upper part of the stem, whereby certain pathological changes appear to be induced, which result in an outflow of liquid containing sucrose. This liquid is collected and concentrated in earthenware pots until it is of such a consistence as to solidify on cooling, when it constitutes “gur” or “jaggery,” a crude, dark brown sugar for which there is a considerable demand in India. “Gur” is sometimes treated in native-owned refineries for the production of a more or less white sugar by placing it in baskets with pots underneath, into which the molasses drains, the removal of the molasses being facilitated by placing on the surface of the “gur” a layer, 4 in. or 5 in. deep, of water-weed (Vallisneria spiralis) to supply moisture.