, 1874-08-19

The reports of the Usines in the French islands
that have opened their eyes, as these esta.
blishments. besides rum and m~olasses. yield from
Z to 9 p. CT. Of sugar, and that, besides, of a
very superior quality. But with the admission
that there was a defect, matters have, essential
~, remained, and attempts to make more sugar
have not been made, although they are near at
hand. Il is only here of late that a!ishcpe has
been placed in Central Factories, and from them
miracles are now expected.
Is it then to such factories that tho other
sugar producing Westindia Islands, exclusively
or essentially, owe their fouriShing stste2 It
certainly cannot be denied that such factories,
where they are found, spread prosperity around
them, besides doing 8 good business themselves;
but absolutely necessary for that prosperity
they are not, for islands, which 10 a manufac-
turing point of view are not 10 advance of St.
Croix, thrive very we'll without them. There
must then be other causes at work, which place
st. Croix under more uufayourable conditions,
and here it is, as aforementioned that the
complaint of the want of rain reaches us as an
explanation of the precarious state of things.
We shall now examine if that complaint is enti-
tied to be considered we'll founded and justi-
fed.
If you take the observations on the rainfall
in st. Croix by themselves, you are first as
tonished at their effectiveness and the disprO.
portion of the number of places Of observa-
ton to the Importance attached to the rainfall.
But when you have then gone carefully over
the meagre material, you find to your aston.
ishment that in reality there has been no de-
crease in the fall, neither in the quantity nor
in its distribution. When We except the two
last years, which, it would appear, are now likely
to be followed by a good year, with respect
to rain, the quantity of rain has remained un-
changed, and any gradual decrease, as has
been said to take place, cannot be shown. But
If it is incorrect that the rain has decreased, it
is true that the crop and the rainfall are init.
mately connected, the rain of the previous year
having an influence on the crop of the follow
Ing which begins in February. The list in note
below will show this palmer than any descrip-
ton >. 1t will be perceived from it that the
crop is always proportionate to the quantity
of rain of the proceeding year, but it will also
be seen that the yield per acre, with the equal
rainfall, is now about the same as at the CON-
menoement of the observations, and as it has
probably been long before lin 1sI4-24 the
average crop is stated to have been
24,e30,000 lbs. sugar on a cultivated area of
about 10000 acres, consequently about 826
lbs. pr. acre). FROM the above We may rea-
sonably draw two conclusions first, that st.
Croix must have been exceedingly fertile, as it
mas Deen a0le, during at least % years, nearly
unchanged, to give the same crop, and second
ly, that the great progress made in agriculture
for the last 90 years, have passed by it quite
unheeded.
This assumption Is further oorroborated by
the fact that the quantity of rainfall. both in
common conversation and in the printed re-.
ports, is the only factor on which the crop is
supposed to depend, while such factors as
tillage, rotation of crops, manuring, etc, that
IS, such operations as experience has taught
US to be necessary for rational and progress
sive agriculture, and such as are either in q
high degree directly conducive, or, as f. in.,
the planting of trees, moderating less favour
able natural relations, are not at all consider.
ed in the question of the magnitude of the crop.
Many things seem to indicate that both the
planters themselves and the Governor, who
takes so lively an interest 10 the advancement