, 1873-03-22

~ " ONSth AAAAH VI COiDpOOOAOC3 0l10
some more than competence, on estates so
small and so difficult Of access that their
being carried on at all without ruin is q
marvel to strangers. The failures that
have taken place here have been almost
exclusively the result of absenteeisn-a
luxury that a small estate can seldom sup
port, But being better known abroad
than the successes of others, they have
cast upon the island an undcserved discre-
dit that has checked the employment of
English capital. This evil has, however,
not been entirely without compensation.
The estates have now all passed into the
hands of resident proprietors, whose per-
sonal supervision is felt each year more
and more, and who are gradually acquir-
ing a capital, promising even better re-
suits in the future.
'39-The system Of agriculture, as in
most of the West India Islands, is some
what rude, BIT signs at efforts to improve
it are not altogether wanting. To 1869,
only 1854 tons Of guano were imported in
1870, $50 tons and I may also mention
that in the latter year a steam-irrigating
machine was seen in the island for the first
time. It was imported by an enterprising
resident proprietor, for use in the plain Of
Vjeux Fort. The rainfall is there below
the average, owing probably to the attraC-
ton of the clouds by the mountains of
other districts, and is moreover said to be
decreasing, through the cutting down of
forests on the neighbouring hills.
'40-The returns of mileage sic? acre
age) under cultivation are not trust
worthy. The magistrates, who make
them, are compelled to be content for the
most part with estimates from mere in
spection and such are apt to be wide of
the mark. They are undoubtedly so in
the present instance. The creation of the
new office of Colonial Surveyor and En-
gineer may enable us, in future years, to
obtain a nearer approximation to accuracy.
al. From these returns it would appear
that in 1870 the number of acres in Sugar
Cane was little over 5,O0OAa considerable
decrease by comparison with former years.
But the general, and, [ am convinced, cor
rect, opinion Of planters is to the effect
that Cane Cultivation, instead Of being
contracted, has been year by year extend
ed, and now covers a greater area than at
any former time. Virgin soil is being
broken for it in all directions and while
no estates have latterly been abandoned,
soma have been reclaimed, and others,
which a few years ago grew little else but
weeds aud trees, are now yielding abund-
ant crops. One proprietor has almost en-
tirely, by extended cultivation, increased
this year to 700 hogsheadS, the crop Of
estates which only three years ago yielded
an average Of only $50 hogsheads !; and
many others have made similar progress,
though not in the same proportion.
'42-But apart from these facts, another
consideration shows that the estimate of
5000 acres is within the mark. Duty was
paid in 1870 on more than 10000 hogs
heads exported, which, if this estimate
were correct, would be two hogsheads to
each acre-a yield which, though common
enough under a high state of cultivation,
is incredible as the average of a whole
colony, where land is so little titled as in
st. Lucia. On this account, the real num-
Der of acres in Caue is probably nearer
1000 than 5000.
'43-Besides extension of cultivation, I
am able to record a progress in manufac-
ture which makes further improvement
probable, and will certainly render it more
easy. Steam power is gradually suppressed
ing all others for grinding purposes. Four
teen steam mills were imported in 1870, of
which seven replaced others that had been
moved hv wind uo+or ar ooftlo and cQVaD-