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CHAPTER VII. 



PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRY. AGRICULTURE. EXPORTABLE ARTICLES SUGAR, CACAO, 

 COFFEE, ETC. ALIMENTARY ARTICLES LIVE-STOCK VEGETABLES PLANTAIN, 

 MAIZE, RICE, MANIOC, YAMS, ETC. FRUITS. COMMERCE. IMPORTS, EXPORTS. 



THIS subject, from its importance, will be noted, as fully as pos- 

 sible, under the two following heads : 1st, agriculture, 2nd, com- 

 merce. 



AGRICULTURE. Trinidad is an exclusively agricultural 

 country, and such, for an unlimited period, it must continue to 

 be, inasmuch 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 aided at any expense. This has 

 already been done within certain limits. The immigration ordi- 

 nance, and the exemption from duty of machinery and implements 

 of husbandry, are measures certainly calculated to benefit the 

 agricultural interests. To these I may add the trespass ordi- 

 nance, and the clause which makes the stealing of a sugar-cane an 

 offence punishable by a heavy fine or imprisonment. But, in 

 direct opposition to the intent of these measures, a regulation has 

 been adopted which sanctions the dismemberment of a sugar 

 estate by authorising the separate sale of the movable property, 

 such as the live-stock and implements, independent of the land and 

 fixtures. Whenever applied, this rule has proved highly injurious 

 in its operation, and much valuable property has already been, 

 and may still be, sacrificed. For an estate, divested of live-stock 

 and implements, bears only a nominal value ; and the purchaser 

 of the land and fixtures will always include in his calculations, as 

 so much cash payment, the necessary disbursements for replacing 

 mules, carts, &c., and will make his offer accordingly. 



The above favourable measures, however, were never contem- 

 plated as an encouragement to agriculture generally, but as an 

 exclusive protection to the cane cultivation. Certainly, the sugar 

 interest being by far the most important was entitled to, and 

 ought still to receive, the largest share of protection ; but it was 



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