CHAPTER VII. 



PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRY — AGRICULTURE — EXPORTABLE ARTICLES '. SUGAR, CACAO, 

 COFFEE, ETC. — ALIMENTARY ARTICLES : LIVE-STOCK, 'VEGETABLES, PLAN- 

 TAIN, MAIZE, RICE, MANIOC, YAMS, ETC. — FRUITS — COMMERCE. 



This subject, from its importance, will be noted as fully as 

 possible under the two following heads — 1st, Agriculture ; 2nd, 

 Commerce. 



Agriculture. — Trinidad is an exclusively agricultural country, 

 and such it must continue to be for an unlimited period, inas- 

 much as its prosperity entirely depends on the cultivation of the 

 soil and the exportation of colonial produce. 



Agriculture, therefore, is of vital importance to the island, 

 and ought to be encouraged, and even aided at any expense. 

 This has already been done within certain limits. The immigra- 

 tion ordinance and the exemption from duty of machinery and 

 implements of husbandry are measures calculated to benefit the 

 agricultural interest. To these I may add the trespass ordinance, 

 and the clause of the law which makes the stealing of sugar- 

 canes or provisions an offence punishable by a heavy fine or 

 imprisonment. 



The sugar interest being, by far, the most important, is 

 entitled to, and ought to receive, the largest share of protection ; 

 not, however, to the extent and the form it was once granted, 

 when all other cultures were made subordinate to that sole 

 branch. 



The territorial ordinance was passed avowedly with the 

 object of penning up the labouring class on the existing planta- 

 tions. But instead of locating on, or returning to, sugar and 

 cacao estates, the emancipated bondsmen gave themselves up to 

 petty traffic, and devoted their children likewise to mechanical 

 trades ; or, again, took illegal possession of the public lands. The 

 towns and villages became crowded with a swarm of idlers and 



