tion on a large scale, the climate seeming hardly fit 

 for close settlement by Europeans. Good canes seem 

 to be grown by the Indians at Kibos without any 

 irrigation. The labour conditions in these parts 

 should be good, and sugar produced here for local 

 consumption or for sending further up country would 

 enjoy a very .useful advantage over imported sugar 

 in the matter of freights. 



POSSIBILITIES I take it, however, that readers of this book are 



IN THE HIGH- Hkely to be most interested in the possibilities of the 

 LANDS. industry in the Highlands, where Europeans can 



settle and work their own holdings in pleasant con- 

 ditions. Though figures are only available over such 

 a short time and small areas, and practically all on one 

 estate only, I think it reasonable to suppose that 

 canes will give good yields, under favourable condi- 

 tions, up to somewhere alaout 5,000 feet. It is 

 probable that much over this height the juices may 

 prove less rich — but so far there are no actual figures 

 to go upon. It is also probable that canes grown in 

 swamps will give inferior results, though they make 

 very handsome growth. 



THE IDEAL The following seem to me the ideal conditions 



CONDITIONS. for this country, so far as can be estimated at 

 present: — Altitude: Below 5,000 feet. Any good 

 soil, provided it can be well drained. Our canes have 

 all been grown on rather heavy alluvial soil. It seems 

 most important that there should be a good supply 

 of water, so situated that it can be easily led out by 

 cheap methods for irrigation and power. Fuel shoiuld 

 be available in fair quantities, enough for at least 

 4 or 5 years, till artificial plantations can be fit for 

 use. This is a very vital point, and where steam 

 power has to be used instead of water for the crush- 

 ing, it will be even more so. The question of plant- 

 ing up for future needs should be considered from 

 the first. Position : The smaller the outfit the less 

 nearness to the Rails will matter, provided there are 

 neighbours to buy the product on the spot. Freights 

 and transport, of course, act as a very useful protec- 

 tion under such circumstances. This in fact is one 

 of the points that would seem to make it possible, 

 even under pre-war conditions, to run even a cheap 

 and wasteful plant with success, if used with proper 

 care and intelligence. 



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