The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1883-02-14
$40
Simmons TropicG, Agriculture.
Central Factories in the West
Indies.
{ Co7atiala1ed from page 330.)


number of hectares under culture
with the cane in 1874 was 1884, aud
there were 564 sugar pieces and small
plantations. The number of laborers
employed was 33,643. There were
SO sugar estates possessing steam
mills, and IA central Usines or sugar
works.
The sugar crop of Martinique is
probably less than one-half of that of
Trinidad; the superior quality, how~
ever, manufactured by the Usines,
raises the value of the crop much
more in proportion.
The finest soil lies to the north
and northeast of the island, where
the estates are on much larger scale
than on the south side; the soil is
volcanic, and carriage of canes or
produce practicable at all seasons.
The seasons also are not SO marked
TO the north Of the island, less rain
falling in the dry season than else
where; so much so, that sugar max
ing and cultivation may be carried
on at almost any period of the year.
The showers fall principally in the
early morning.
There are no Usines to the north.
The largest estate there makes near
ly 1000 barriques, equal to about
$50 hhds. of ton weight. The av-
erage crop of an estate is, however,
from 500 to 600 barriques.
There will be shortly two Usines
near st. Pierre, one OF which has
been for some time in operation, and
the other in course of construction
to the south of the town of st. Pier
re. The Usines are principally erect
ed in the southern part OF the island,
in the direction of and beyond Fort
de France las it is now called), where
the country is more level, and the
facilities greater for bringing the
canes by rail 10 the Usines. The
estates by which these Usines are
now fed were formerly small proper
ties, with inferior machinery of little
power, making each from 40 to $50
ions of sugar. These small estates
now grow more than double their
former crops, which are manufactured
on the Usines into sugar of three
qualities, .. e.-lst class sugar, OF
large and strong chrystals and to all !
intents and purposes white; the I'd
class article, made ron the molasses
boiled first time, resembles che orr
binary crushed sugar imported from |
England, but is not quite so white;
the Sd class is superior in color to
the best muscovado, though some~
what inferior in grain.
The Usines or central sugar tactic.
ries having attracted considerable at
tention as TO their working and al
legged successful operations, several
official visits were made to them in
1872, and reports submitted. The |
following is one by Mr.. r. IL. Bur>
ton, Commissioner from Porto Rico.
There are fifteen Usines or central
sugar factories in the island OF Mar
Unique, the greater number are IN
vicinity Of the Bay of Fort de France,
within easy water communication, or
having tram ways from the estab-
lishments to their wharves.
Usines Gallon, Robert, Francois,
Trinite, and Simon, are on the east
coast; on the north coast where the
large estates are located, there are
none; neither do the planters OF that
district appear to desire them; the
north has always been the most pro-
ductive part OF Martinique, the es.
tates there being well cultivated and
having good machinery; those dis
trlcts where the central factories are
now established, except LA Renty,
situated in the level lands OF the
neighborhood OF the town of La Mar
tin, never had the latter advantage.
AS an example of the working ex>
penses and net returns of the French
Usines, l have copied from the books
OF several OF these their last years
results. To abbreviate as much as
possible, but at the same time to
give iair idea OF what they do prc>
duce, take those of the three Usines
under the direction of men such as
Messrs. Quennesson and Bougenot,
who are those who have brought the
Usines to their present state OF pros,
perity.
Poiute Simon, the first established
is situated close to the sea, at the
estern extremity OF the city OF Fort
de France. For many years it was
complete failure, and ruined Its
pre- jector, Mr.. Thorp, au Euglisman.
AT his death it was taken over by
the house OF Gail, TO whom it was
I'll Aoh4nA n,,A nndnr tho i'm