20. Report of the Agricultural Committee. 



unfortunately now, when from the total absence of confi- 

 dence and credit for such purposes, the planter is least able 

 to have recourse to it, improvement has become a ques- 

 tion of pure self defence, not of speculation — « In times 

 » like the present, when the accumulation of capital and 

 » general competition have reduced the rate of profits to a 

 » scale so comparatively moderate, it is a matter of neces- 

 » sity for every manufacturer to keep pace with, and, if pos- 

 » sible,to be somewhat in advance of the general progress." 

 Porter, on the Sugar Cane, 'i'^ Ed„ p. 235.— To apply to 

 ourselves the words of Mr. Degrand in 1835, with refer- 

 ence to the sugar manufacture of France and her Colonies ; 

 « Une legislation nouvelle, essentiellement mobile, a cre^ 

 » et cr6e incessamment de nouvelles necessit6s pour les 

 » rolons, les raffineurs et les fabricans de sucre indigene; 

 » il faut maintenant qu'ils fabriquent mieux, et a meilleur 

 » marche qu'ilsne le faisaient il y a peu d'ann6es; et, dans 

 » peu d'ann^es a venir, il leur faudra, probablement, fabri- 

 » qiier mieux encore, et a meilleur march^; et ils ne pour- 

 it ront se soustraire a ces n6cessit6s qu'en renon^ant a leur 

 » etat.)) And Mr. Dumas observes: « Avec un Equipage 

 » bien mont6, bouillant bieii, de belles Cannes et de bon 

 « bois. il est toujours facile <le faire de bon sucre. Mais il 

 » s'agit d'en faire beauG0«p.» 



Thequestion of the separation of the Manufacturing, from 

 the Agricultural part of the industry, and the establishment 

 of Central Factories, where »he process might be carried on 

 with all the advantages of the improved system, and under 

 the direction of competent persons, is one of great interest, 

 but which the Committee is unable to dwell upon, in the 

 present Report. 



But whilst advocating improvement in our manufacture. 



J 



