152 SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE: AN ANALYSIS. 



can consume. While the census returns of production are so 

 presented that a comparative statement cannot be given, it is 

 generally known that exportation of fruit gave a great impetus 

 to the growing of fruit. We have in fruit culture, as in maize- 

 growing, a clear proof that the agriculturist, like every other class 

 of the community, will invest when he sees the opportunity of 

 doing so profitably ; he cannot be expected to produce until he 

 can sell : market first, production next. 



The sugar industry dates back to 1849. Labour difficulties, 

 among others, beset the venture. Even after these were over- 

 come by the importation of indentured Indian labour, begun in 

 i860, the market for Natal sugar was very small. " A welcome 

 impetus was given to the industry," says David Don, " by the 

 discovery of diamonds in (Iriqualand West," as a result of which 

 four times the number of vacuum pans were installed. Better 

 transport facilities raised the production to 19,369 tons in 1894. 

 During tlie next few years the production was almost stationary, 

 though it advanced somewhat after Natal entered the Customs 

 Union with the Cape and the Free State in 1899. Soil, labour, 

 and every requirement for production were there, but Natal sugar 

 still groped for a wide market. It was the Customs Convention 

 of 1906 that gave Natal sugar a free market all over British 

 South Africa, and suitable protection at all the seaports. We 

 see the results in the following tables : — 



Exports from Natal to otiirr parts of South Africa. 



IQ06. IQ07. 1908. 1909. 



Tons. . . 25.001 .... 26.226 .... ,^8.4.^Q 48.570 



Since 191 o trade as between Provinces is not recorded. 



Oz'crsea Imports into .R:if'sh South Africa 



IQ06. 1907. 1908. 1909- 



Tons. . . 56.41 [ 53-^X^ 45.74.^ ■ • ■ 33.661 



1910. 19TI. I9I-2- I9r3 1914- 



Tons 29,676 ... 36,482 ... 10.385 ... 29.227 ... 23.576 



That is, as we facilitated trade locally, so importation de- 

 creased. 



Now note the increase in production : — 



1906. 1907. 1908. i9o<). T9IO 191 f- 1912. 

 Toils .. .. 31.190 35.ICO 51.200 77.49T 84,437 92,000 96,000 



About fifty-one years ago black- wattle seed is said to have 

 been ])lanted for the first time in Natal, where the economic 

 value of wattle bark was recognised by the late Sir George 

 Sutton twenty years later. In 1887 the first shipment of bark 

 oversea was made, and in 1903 exportation reached 13.591 tons. 

 It is interesting to observe that as production increased prices 

 declined. We produced in 



1904 15,818 tons. 



1905 17.512 .. 



1906 16,607 - 



1907 27,239 „ 



1908 . . . 27,830 ,. 



