, 1891-03-14
I U s A V 0 3
Stristia1stra u. Grim.
Saturday, 18th March, 1891.

Last Saturday We referred to the starting
of an ga gricultural and Industrial Society"
in st. ThOmas 8, and said that, considered in
the light of the actual circumstances the,
effort to encourage agriculture in St.
Thomas was both appropriate and wise. A.
good many people in that island are of the
same way of thinking, and we do not doubt
that the society will find many supporters;
and will secure substantial help in the way
of subs criptions to the necessary funds.
The starting OF the idea, has called forth
some opinions in the local papers. A wri-
ter, for example, over the signature of
'QuaShie" advocates in Lqhtbourn's Mail
Notes, that cotton should be grown. He
thinks that it will be necessary to raise
some article for expOrtation, and that
cotton would be one of the best to se-
lect. 1t may be that cotton could be-
grown at a profit in st. Thomas. We
see that it figures for a small amount
in the exports of Grenada, and we
suppose it must pay those who are
engaged in raising it or the work would
not go on. But we have very little
faith in cotton as a profitable article of
cultivation in these islands,. At one time
doubtless it was one of the staples of the
West Indies, but was given up here when
the Southern States of the Union en-
tered into the business, and became, whe.
Their from superior advantages of climate
or from whatever other cause, successful n
walls in the industry. About 80 years ago.
when the Wan OF Secession disturbed
Southern industry so completely as for the
time almost 10 destroy it, the West Indies
had again an opportunity for going into
the cotton cultivation. Ii many of the is
lands it was taken up, not only by small
growers, who sold their cotton to sl'ecula.
tors who ginned, baled and shipped it; but
also by owners of estates, who i'm pOrted pro-
per apparatus and entered into the CnltiVa~
ton and preparation of the cotton on a ra-
Their extended scale. What was the result
Of this attempt? Success for two or three
years, no doubt but as soon as peace was
restored and the cotton fields of the South
were again under cultivation, the West
Indian cultivation ceased to pay and was
very soon given up. AS circumstances have
not since changed again in favour Ofthe West
Indian grower, it may we'll be asked then
what would be gained by the experiments
Nothing, we fear, but that teaching, which
experience proverbially gives at q rather
hi.h price but which price there is N
need to pay in this case, the experience hav-
ing already been obtained long ago as We
have Just shown. 1t may be questioned,
however, whether it is necessary, that an
article of export should be grown, or whe-
ther there Is NOT room nOCl III OG. 1nOmdS
and in Santa Cruz for a large extension OF
field industry in the direction of supplying
local needs. "A penny saved is IA penny
earned" is a prOveIb of direct application.
we think, in this instance. Every house.
keeper knows, aud we are here chiefly.
thinking of Santa Cruz, that the table has
frequently to BE- supplied Wi b imported
articles when native grown articles of q
similar kind would not only. do as we'll,
but would be greatly preferred, it they
could be obtained. We know Well, OF