, 1894-12-12

districts to q more or less degree.
II Oh increase ia the rainfall in the East
End district could be induced by local efforts
thereis every reason 10 believe cane cultivation
would rapidly ard extensively follow. The
peasant proprjetorship has been under trial
here for several years and has satisfactorily
proved to BIZ the most economical ana I'D
NantaSeous system for reclaiming and cul-
tiyating waste lands and if these East lands
could be cultivated with a probability of
success aQd profit no difficulty whatever
would he encountered in getting people to
to undertake it.
The peasantry Of this Island have shewn
how great their ambition.is to improve their
condition and the means to crafty it here is
abundant. That this ambitious energy pro-
perly fostered and iudioiously developed
would in the future prove a very valuable
unit to the islands resources cannot DO in tho
least doubted Judging from past experience.
.Letthis energy Of the peopiethen be expended
on their native soil and by giving them
greater interest ahd responsibility in both
themselves and THAR c0untry's welfare a
better and more desirable class of citizens
will result, constantly increasing and en-
larging.
The Proprietors in the East End although
contributing towards the immigration fund
unfortunately owing to their depressed
condition and surroundings have never
benefited therefr6m it not being convenient
or necessary to employ more than q few
hands upon their estates. Now the very
best form Of immigrant to them to com
monCe with would be rain. To assist them
to secure this most welcome visitor would
it be too utopian TO suggest q small amount
be granted from the immigration fund for
the purpose to enable young trees to be-
planted on suitable sites provided for this
purpose by their respective owners. It
would of course be necessary to protect these
plantations by q local Forest Law, but as
the object would be for public benefit the
more stringent it be framed. and the more
general its sphere of operation be the greater
the benefit and warmer the welcome It
would receive.
1t is admitted the. Island generally Is
iavoured with q fairly rioh soil, and given u
suficency Of moisture planters here can sue
c~essfnlly combat with low prices in tho Sugar
markets, will they not now join hands in
an endeavor to provide means to secure the
presence Of that upon which the Islands
prosperity entirely depends.
The oane cultivation is evidently the best
adapted for St. Croix and it is very far from
being played out, . exceedingly responsive TO
improvements both in its cultivation and sub
sequent manufacturing process it continues to
rise superior to artificial productions and also
artificial Impressions in the markets audit will
continue to maintain it's superiority until these
artificial adverse influences are modified or
swept away when Pts future will be enlarged
and more prosperous.
II by any enclosures adopted by proprietors,
grea ter humidity and in All probability an in
crease in the rainfall could be obtained in
island other and contemplated pro
auctions would be more securely and efficient
ly developed and the one industry supplement
ing the other would give the planters greater ,
financial stamina, why then should St. Croix
not also export cattle, tobacco, coffee, corn
meal. arrowIoo etc, with sufficient guam
'titv Of moisture the island could easily and
creditably do SO.
Throughout the island trees are Icing cut
to provide fuel for furnaces on estates and
also fer the daily domestic demand, yet not
the least effort is made to perpetuate the gsup-
ply. Soon an end must come to this, aud the
next burning question will be a wood supply.
Those acquainted with the writings of Sir
Walter Scott the injunction of the dying
laird of Dumbiedikes will probably occur to
their memory "Jock when ye has naething
else to do We he be aye stocking IN a tree it
will be growing jock when ye're sleeping"