llS TiMEHRl. 



6. The improved and more scientific treatment of 

 the soil as regards drainage, tillage and manure. 



There are other ways in which the cost of sugar pro- 

 du6lion may be cheapened, but the foregoing appear 

 to me some of the most important, demanding immediate 

 consideration. 



Having thus far referred to some necessary preliminary 

 matters, I will now proceed to deal with figures bearing 

 on the cost of growing and manufafturing a ton of sugar 

 in this Colony. I have divided the cost of production 

 into two main heads, viz : — First, Labour expenditure, 

 sub divided into labour under cultivation and labour under 

 manufacture, and Second, Expenditure other than labour. 



Labour Expenditure, The first and most important 

 item for consideration under this head is that of Tillage. 

 A sum of $26 per acre per annum should cover the cost of 

 tillage proper, and this would represent $iS per ton sugar, 

 on the assumption that the yield is 1.65 tons and that 

 12 0/0 of area under cultivation is not reaped each year 

 but turned over. During the past few years, on account 

 of the unfavourable nature of the seasons and the 

 great demand that has existed for labour, the average 

 cost of tillage has been considerably more than $a6 per 

 acre, in some cases the cost has been as high as $35 per 

 acre, but with moderate seasons and a fair supply of 

 labour $26 should be sufficient. Tillage proper includes 

 the following heads, under which expenditure is incurred, 

 viz., relieving, weeding and moulding and trashing, mix- 

 ing and applying manure, lime, &c., supplying, forking 

 banks, burying trash, cleaning and digging drains, 

 drilling, half-banking and re-planting, grass banking, 

 lining, superintendence and various sundries. The cost 



