192 



Timehri. 



Let us see what we have accomplished under these severe handicaps. 



Our production of our staple crop has been 



tons sugar 



Our local consumption being roughly 8,000 tons a year, and our 

 annual exports about 100,000 tons. 



We reaped in 1916 64,814 acres of rice, producing some 523,140 

 bags of rice of 180 lbs. per bag. 



In 1904 we possessed 5,140 acres of coconuts, in 1917 we could 

 claim an area of 23,872 acres. 



At the end of 1917 we had 5,237 acres under Para Rubber (Hevea 

 brasiliensis) and in that year exported 14,784 lbs. 



Our Cacao area was 1970 acres, and Coffee occupied 4953 acres, 

 while Limes were responsible for 1480 acres. 



Oar Ground Provisions are shown by Professor Harrison as taking up 

 an area of 18,247 acres. That is to say we had, according to Professor 

 Harrison's Official Eeport of his Department, at the end of 1917, the 

 following acreage under cultivation 



Sugar 



Rice 



Coconuts 



Cacao 



Coffee 



Rubber 



Limes 



Ground Provisions 18,247 



77,828 acres 



58,090 „ counting only first crop 



23,872 



1,973 



4,953 



5,237 



1,480 



The total area then cultivated in crops other than sugar represents 

 113,852 acres. Apart from the claims of sugar, it will be seen that as 

 such crops as coconuts, limes, rubber, &c. begin to reach their maximum 

 or bearing periods, there will be a considerable drain on the available 

 labour required for sugar, which being an annual crop is bound to have 

 its requisite supply at certain periods of growth and harvest, if it is not 

 to be allowed to be ruined. A lime planter may defer his weeding period, 

 a sugar planter cannot. 



