SL 
hed and in many cases the trees were even cut bestek: 
make way for canes. According to Mr. Hooper this has gaed 
within the last 30 years. Since, however, the island Fesito to 
depend on a single industry the price of sugar has grea tly and 
steadily declined. The sugar cultivation now remaining is chiefly 
attached to the large factories or usines established in the 
Cul-de-sac valley, Roseau Valley, Dennery and Vieux Fort 
242. The St. Lucia Usines and Estates ice ae Limited, own 
or lease 13 estates, with a total area of 5 925 ra These estates 
a 
of hands employed is from I,700 to beim The machinery is all 
of Ek pa description, turning out vacuum-pan centrifugal sugar 
for the American market. The ete factory has a total area 
actual cost of producing vacuum-pan centrifugal sugar is 
given at 107. per ton. About 100 tons of canes were bought last 
year from small Sabsrsere or cane farmers. With regard to this 
Cul-de-sac beta the rigagees, according to the Blue Book 
report for 1895, gave ative of their intention to withdraw from 
the property, and to cease working both the factory and estates. 
Tt seemed possible that, under such circumstances, the property 
would revert to the condit tion of jungle “ while not only would 
estates provisionally fora year. The aay were so far favourable 
that it is possible that this important presi aG will 
maintained on more successful lines han heretofore 
243. Besides the large estates there are about 10 small areas 
owned by peasant proprietors where no outside labouris employed. 
The proprietors and families work the estates, and the canes are 
either sold to the neighbouring usines or made into iia for local 
consumption. The aggregate ae “§ these 5 amir properties 
the a urned at. 
caused distress in certain districts, but in some cases the labourers’ 
have been allowed ba rent land and grow ground provisions for 
their own subsisten ; 
244, Other estates on which the cultivation of canes is abandoned, 
d int 
ng rum, while a ae are rented out to be cultivated by 
metayers who supply the canes to be crushed, under an arrange- 
ment that the proceeds ioe divided between the proprietor and 
the labourer. The latter is only a temporary expedient, and will 
15045 aes 
