WEST INDIES 6 57 



Cocoa, nutmegs and cotton represent the principal products, and in past years have 

 practically absorbed the attention of the agricultural population. A healthy tendency 

 however is now being manifested to open up other sources of development. The record 

 cocoa crop of the island 73,863 bags was reaped in the year ending September 30, 1910. 

 In the following year it was 67,144 bags. Land settlement schemes have been initiated 

 in the dependency of Carriacou, where a lime industry has been established, and also in 

 Grenada itself, where rubber cultivation is extending. Practically the only manufacture 

 is rum, of which 63,356 gallons were made in 1911; a soap factory is also in operation. 

 The total imports for 1910 were valued at 279,368 and for 1911 at 309,227 and the 

 exports at (1910) 291,760 (including cocoa 259,365) and (1911) 264,640 (cocoa 223,104). 



The revenue was (1909-10) 71,224, (1910-11) 81,413, (1911-12) 98,645; the Expendi- 

 ture (1909-10) 73,282, (1910-11) 75,561 and (1911-12) 81,012. The Colony's assets 

 stood on March 31, 1912, at 56,419. The public debt was 123,670; and the accumulated 

 sinking fund for its redemption between 1917 and 1942 amounted to 30,270. The Govern- 

 ment owns and maintains 9 of the 49 existing schools, the remainder being grant-in-aid 

 schools (22 Roman. Catholic, 1 1 Anglican, 5 Wesleyan and 2 Church of Scotland). The 

 number of scholars on the roll was 10,905, and the average attendance 5377. 



St. Lucia. 1 The census of April 1911 showed a population of 48,637 as compared with 

 49,883 in 1901. The birth rate for 1910 was 30.1 per thousand and the death rate 16.6. In 

 1910 the Government made its first comprehensive attempt to combat the malaria problem 

 by means of the free distribution of quinine. 



The principal products are sugar and cocoa, which represent 92 per cent of the domestic 

 exports. Lime cultivation is steadily increasing, while honey and cotton are also produced, 

 though cotton does not appear to find favour with the planters. The Botanic station and 

 special agricultural services involved an expenditure during 1910 of 638, and 507 was 

 spent on the maintenance of the Agricultural School. Plants to a total number of 54,929 

 were distributed by the Agricultural Department. Local sulphur deposits are worked, but 

 the quantity obtained in 1910 was so small that none was exported. The position of the 

 rum industry is indicated by the following returns: distilled, 49,256 gallons; consumed, 

 42,456 gallons; exported, 4692 gallons. In 1909 the experiment was tried of snipping rum 

 to Canada. In 1910 however this was found unprofitable owing to the low prices obtainable. 

 Consequently less rum has since been manufactured. The outlook in regard to the trade of 

 the port of Castries is encouraging. This remark applies especially to the extending coal 

 trade. The total value of all imports was (1909) 266,228, (1910) 277,208; and of exports 

 (1909) 250,674, and (1910) 238,955. The revenue was (1909-10) 65,739, and (1910-11) 

 65,066, and the expenditure (1909-10) 64,446, and (1910-11) 67,288. The Colony's 

 surplus on March 31, 1911, stood at 25,014, in addition to the Public Buildings Insurance 

 Fund (3895). The Public Debt amounted to 146,929. There were 53 elementary 

 schools in 1910, having 7259 scholars on the roll, with an average attendance of 4625 



The Administrator in 1912 was the Hon. Edward J. Cameron, C.M.G. 



St. Vincent. 2 The census of April 1911 showed a population of 41,877. The births 

 in 1910-11 totalled 1661 (831 males, 830 females), 58.21 per cent being illegitimate. 

 Deaths totalled 835 (19.93 P er thousand), infant mortality standing at 24.91 per cent. 



During recent years St. Vincent has taken up the cultivation of cotton with enthusi- 

 asm. The extent of the acreage and the quantity of the export in 1910 were the largest 

 since the revival of the industry in the island. Sea Island cotton was planted over 

 3,587 acres, and 561,526 Ib of lint were produced, the average yield of lint per acre being 

 156 Ib. The total cotton production was 521,956 Ib, valued at 38,409. 



The success attending this cultivation has set up a serious rivalry with arrowroot, 

 which has held pride of place in the exports for many years, but so long as cotton retains 

 its average value of i8d. per Ib of lint, it must constitute the staple crop of the Colony. 

 Arrowroot can be grown on any land where cotton is cultivable, whereas the production 

 of cotton is confined to the coast lands. Meanwhile arrowroot continues to receive 

 increased attention. Towards the end of 1910 a Growers' and Exporters' Association 

 began work, and it is notable that the price has advanced from ifd. to 3^d. per Ib. The 

 soil and climate of the Colony appear to be better suited to arrowroot production than 

 those of any other West Indian island. Sugar is produced chiefly in the Carib country, 

 the only noticeable feature being an increase in the export of the crystallised, and a de- 

 crease in that of muscovado. Land settlement continues satisfactory. 



The ginning of cotton is the principal industry, the Central Ginnery established by the 

 Government in 1903-04 having proved a profitable and indeed indispensable factor 

 in the success of cotton culture. The working of the establishment in 1910 yielded a profit 



1 See E. B. xxiv, 27. * See E. B. xxiv, 50. 



