, 1890-05-31
good qualities. 1t should find a ready sale

his testimony IL hlShIN Sal'SIhtto'NH
and in the United States the article is not
less fully estimated. Il Is moreover a STA
pie commodity OF commerce, III whiril s'IE
GUS variations of value are not t" he locke"
for, and this goes to rid the work OF poo
duction OF uncrrtain and FSky CnIdis
tiOnS.
With aud and ciuate so a lapted for
the growth of the Sisal fibre, the plant
being Indigenous, tits remarkable that the
industry had-not acquired a practical exist
ence until the Legislature gave 1t an I'M
petuS by the toStei ing Act ct the Session
OF Feurualy laSt-so little was it generally
regarded, that the small farmers viewed
the plant with despair as a noxlouS weed
they were unable to eradicate. Frcm every
part of the Colony we now have gratifying
proofs of an awakening and intelligent
spirit aud of the steady advance III the
establishments Of the industry, and pnhIIc
faith in its efficiency AZ an agent OF general
future prosperity incr eases as we proceed
in the work Of inquiry. There are some
very interesting statements i'll Il pamphlet
recently published by MIR. Stoddaft, OF
jamaica, who spent some time in Yncatan,
where the fibre in trstry has for some years
been prosecuted with cons icuouS success,
under conditions Of soil and climate not
more favourable than we have in these
islands. We were aware that the plant IS
independent of drought, and this is Mr..
~StOddart's experience. 1t was also believed
in this Colony that it takes about three
years after planting to bring the leaf toa
productive state, and this is confirmed by
Mr.. StOddaIt, who ais affirmS that it Will
then yield annually for 10 70 20 years
without any material outlay on its culliva-
ton. The produce ut an acre in full growth
Mr.. Stoddart sets down at from one thou
sand to twelve hundred pounds Of fibre,
and he corrohora'es HE OPP Mon held here
that the plant thriveS best on rocky and
impoverished soil, and that it is stunned by
cattle, and Consequently free from INJURY
Oh this account
Mr. Stoddart'S es' innate Of production,
vii Ell it Is not meant to impeach, admits
of .Mgp abatement and yet leaves the tn
terprise .fJl Of promise, At a fair Plice he
makes til money value OF an acre about
eighty dollars annually but his EXccllency
prefers a lower basis OF calculation TO
cover all as>umable adverse contingencies.
The Governor in this view takes fifty dol
lars an acre ann ually, which gives a hand
some margin Of profit on the cultivation.
The return Of wheat farming is highly
enough placed al 80 bushels an acre, or as
many dollars at a reasonable computation
Of price, and We are thus brought IN pres.
ence of he extraordinary conclusion that
the barr Ell lands Of the Bahamas, through
the fibre cultiva tion, are made to bear an
economic value beyond the tavoured wheat
growing region rs Of the United States and
Canada. We moreover find this difference
enhanced by the fact that the fibre needs
but one planting for Is to 90 crops, while
wheat must be planted annually, and is
1o h1a fN NJ onv ipjIlIiODS 00ntinOpOppQ tTOm
VIII ich the SisAl plant is exempt.
These islands should be the Paradise OF
the working Man. The land is obtainahle
on very easy terms, and in lots to meet the
circumstances of the labourlng population.
To create the largest possible plumber OF
peasant proprietOrs is the great desire of
the Government. But it is not their inten-
ton to lead the people away from their
present pursuits, for the new industry can
be combined with those existing, as it will
involve little more than the ise of the time
now left on their hands. There are nearly
1000, 900 acres of ungranted lands in the
Colony, and with tie conditions of purchase
the facilities for prosecuting the fibre cui-
~tivation and its value as a staple article Of
commerce., the countries are few that offer
so fair a field for the reward of the capital =
and lahour that may seek Investment in
this undertaking.
1t is intended Immediately TO despatch .
Commissioner from this GOvernment to
Yucatan to make further Inquiries, as it is