, 1874-09-30
RESOURCES OF BARBADOS,
(From tho West Ind!an)

WAT are the resources Of Barbados I? Tbs
answer to this question will supply the means
Of forming a just estimate of the wealth and
general prosperity of its inhabitants. The
chief source of the wealth Of Barbados is in it's
sugar crop, the produce of 10000 acres of
land under canes every year, as agreed upon
by those most practically acquainted with the
agriculture Of the island. The value of this
product varies with the yield of the crop and
the price Of sugar, that is. from about 100000
to a million pounds sterling. Surprising the
cost Of production to he one-half, or so per
cent of he total value Of the crop, there would
remain from 100000 70 $500, coo as net
profits or the clearance Of the land under cul-
~tivation and taking the cultiyable land at
100000 acres, 1t would average from oe3 to
G5 per acre, as great a return as is obtained
from land under cultivation il England or any
country in the world. Hence it is that land
in Barbados sells for such an extravagant
price, from ESQ to eG100 per acre. But the
price of the land is an element Of the cost Of
production, and goes to diminish the profits
on the cultivation, not to increase the annual
wealth. 1t is the low price Of land not the
high price of it, that Is most conducive to
wealth to which the wonderful growth Of new
countries, like the Western States Of America,
ana TIE AUSlIdtldI CDlUlICSj IS NANNY OWlISs
Barbados with It's mall extent of cultiyable
land, has to compete with other British and
Foreign Colonies in the tropics, with much
greater, and in some M Unlimited extent
capable of being put under sugar cultivation,
a great drawback on The industry and enter
prise Of her planters.
The natural fertility Of the soil and the
capacity for yielding large returns under skill
full management increases the value of the
land as we'll as the quantity of its annual pro-
ducts. 1t is to this the attention of our plan
ters has been called in the letters of our agri-
cultural Correspondent, who is Of opinion tha5
the average sugar crop might be increased
considerably by the adoption Of a better sys-
tenn Of cultivation. lie maintains that from
- same area under cane cultivation Of
10000 acres an average return of il hhds.
per acre might be obtained, that is $4,000
hhds as was obtained in the years 1853 and
1866, an addition Of about one fifth to the
annual product Of The land. It has been also
shewn by the same writer how q saving might
be made by the partial introduction of the
rotation system, and planting food for cattle,
and Increasing the quantity Of farm-yard
manure raised on the estates. BY this econo'
my and improved methods Of manufacture,
and the use of more powerful machinery, 1t is
contended, the sugar planter of Barbados may
be enabled to reduce the cost of production,
and maintain his position in competition vita
other cane sugar growers in the Tropics,
and the Gcetroot manufacturers in Europe.
But allowing it to be so, there still remains a
barrier beyond ahich the wealth derived from
the sugar production Of Barbados cannot 60.
It cannot exceed the limits Of the area of
land under cultivation, 10000 acres, and at
a maximum yield Of II hid. TO the acre,
equal to 9l,00O, geo, or at the most to
$780, 900 for the value of the sugar crop,
including m0lasses and rum.
In the production of this crop are employed
according to the last Census, 1S,947 men and
23,323 women, with their children making
about two thirds of the whole population OF
the island, who are supported out Of the pro-
ducts of the soil. 1t is from their labour in
it's cultivation and its natural fertility is drawn
the main source of the wealth of Barbados.
We have more labour than is needed for the
cultivation of the soil, and more than we can
find employment for in connexion win TINS
industry. The larger portion of these extra
hands are employed as domestic servants
petty shopkeeptrs about the own ana country
mechanics, porters, boat-men, fishermen, &c"
the surplus are forced to seek employment In
Demerara and other neighbouring Colonies.
Anothar sonrce of the wealth of Barbados