, 1891-03-18

long ago been forced out of nearly every in
dnstry, out of the production ofindlgo, cotton,
tobacco and coffee, by rivals possessing great
er+ advantages in suitability of soil and climate,
it now appears as though their last and
~staunchest friend, the sugar cane, was to be
torn from them by the skilfully sustained
beet. Perhaps it may be long before the
best lands are abandoned, we hope it may be
never but it does seem likely that the sugar
growing area in an island like Santa Cruz Will
continue to suffer from the process Of contrao-
ton which mas already been i'll progress for
many years. Should this be so, 1t becomes
an important question whether the land thus
given up must be allowed to run into bush,
as 50 much of it has been already allowed to.
do, or whether there are not other Industries
which may, at least in some degree, take TIE
place of the cane. And here it IS that the
value of the steamers appears. We are within
6 days of New York, and are therefore IN q
position to ship oranges, lines and possibly
0 other fruits so as to arrive at one OF the
biggest markets of the world, and one which
is ever extending, in good condition. Perhaps
there could be added to the list certain KINDS
of vegetables, tomatoes especially, which al
WAYS find a ready market in New York dur
ing the winter season, and the production OF
which is in some of the Southern States and
in the Bermudas a most important industry
We are glad to know that some enterprslng
gentlemen are giving cocoa a trial III our
North Side valleys, and we wish them the
success which they deserve; but at the same
time we look with more loving eyes on the
orange. 1t is an old friend on the North
Side. and the best kinds grown there, II not
the best producible, are doubtless good enough
to find a market. 1t seems to us that a few
---- ii - H.. NTo,xl, ODD Yr1t into
oranges could not fail in a few years to give
q good return. 1T present, Notwithstanding
the favourable conditions of the locality,
there are barely enough grown for home con-
sumption, but why should we not produce
more, and why with the steamers passing our
doors, and passing us last of all let us remem-
Der, should we not be able outside to dispose
of all beyond our local wants that we can
possibly produce? We are earnest IN calling
attention to this matter, because 1t seems 10
us that here we have no matter 0! specuIa-
ton it is not an unknown industry we enter
upon, but one which we know already can b
carried out successfully, and the steamers
give us an open door, which we only have t.,
enter. 1t may, of course, be said that orange
culture, like every other, requires special
knowledge to carry it on successfully. we
have nc doubt of it, and it may be presumed
that a trained gardener, skilled IN grating
and pruning for instance, would make more
out of an orange orchard than an amateur.
Of the other hand we DO not see why, with
the experience already had here and the help
of books, an amateur could not succeed. Car
cumstances are apparently forcing, US l4to
new paths, and it is certain that 1t IS better Tor
us to move forward thar to wait to be crush
ed by the pressure from behind. And after
all, the new paths may prove to be more
pleasant, and more profitable than the old.