26. Report of the Agricultural Comvuttee. 



nufacture, from which alone new industries would arise, 

 open a wide field to a large number of young men, who 

 have been thrown out of commercial employment by recent 

 vicissitudes. These might be very usefully engaged in 

 subordinate situations about Sugar Estates, where their 

 admitted intelligence, if coupled with application and re- 

 flective observation, would eventually rescue the staple 

 industry of their country from the hands of a large number 

 of Sirdars and Commandeurs, who have kept it in a state of 

 fixed routine, while they have, at the same time, absorbed 

 no small proportion of the clearest part of the planter's 

 revenue. 



The foregoing observations have been directed chiefly to 

 the culture of the Cane, and is conversion into Sugar. But 

 it is very desirable that other industries should be sought 

 for, in order that the colony should not remain entirely 

 dependent upon a single staple article of production. Notice 

 has frequently been drawn of late years to the raising of 

 Silk, as a means of occupying a portion of the community, 

 particularly the less fortunate members of the respectable 

 classes. The Agricultural Committee has, in consequence, 

 recently appointed, at the request of the Society, a sub- 

 committee to attend specially to the promotion of this 

 interesting object. 



There are other minor industries, also, which should not 

 be lost sight of, at a time when it is necessary thatthe 

 means of support should be found for many, whom late 

 disasters have deprived of the means of existence. If in- 

 dustrious efforts be not wanting, distress, with our genial 

 climpte, excellent soil, and extent of unoccupied land, ought 

 to be comparatively unknown. The rearing of Poultry and 

 Steck, and cultivation of Mais, Manioc, PaUtes, Yams, Po- 



