98 
287. The following table will illustrate the position of the i 
Areri compared with other industries during the last s 
Years. 1890. | 1891. | 1892. 1893. 1894. | 1895. | 1896. 
£ £& £ £ £ £ 
oneone yae oi | molasses 17,571 | 10,327 | 17,108 | 13,264 | 8,738 | 6,485 | 7,554 
£ zum aho m 
Boole si of total e 43 27 39 26 24 17 15 
Value of exports hee: cae sugar 23,538 | 28,054 | 26,746 | 38,067 | 27,642 | 30,647 | 41,419 
Total value of exports, produce | 41,109 | 38,381 | 43,854 | 51,331 | 36,380 | 37,132 “48, 8,973 
of the Colony. 
288. The value of the collective exports of s rum, and 
molasses has therefore fallen from 17,5717. in 1890 to 7, ‘55d. 
in 1896, and now only represents 15 per cent. of the total exports 
of the island, On the other hand, the value of exports other than 
pugar, viz., cacao, limes and lime products, co a bay ee pe 
essential oils, fruit, and vegetables has increased (in spite of 
tornei low prices) fra 23, 5387. in 1890 to 41,4197. in 1896, 
and represent 85 per cent. of the total exports. The export of 
sugar in 1896 consisted of 616 tons of raw or muscovado sugar and 
229 tons of centrifugal. Of rum 28,152 gallons were madd. but 
none exported. 
289. There are many valleys in Dominica where sugar could be 
advantageously if prices were to improve. .The land 
is s naturally fertile, and the seasons are — able for raising good 
rops. e same remedies have bee PA Ea nded here. as in 
the other islands, viz., money at a low rate of interest to erect 
factories, and capable ‘men to manage them ane-farming was 
suggested as likely to be fecha certain localities, but “ to 
* give the farmer his fair share in the profits of his labours, he 
na Se a z the only dhisveholdor i the factory.” The experience 
in Guadeloupe, Santa Cruz, and other islands has joen: that “the 
“Tac tar? (oe swallowed up the farm.” In other words, part of 
the profit s from the factory have Doi kpplia ed in advances and 
loans to make good the losses of the cultivators, bean the result 
that the cane-farmer has been reduced to the position of a mere 
labourer working on the factory lands. This is an pbeiouk defect 
in ee Benetin system, and it can only be overcome by the 
themselves co pomt to erect a factory, and — 
raei them the profits of R the sugar as we 
those earned by growing their own can 
LIME INDUSTRY. 
290. The most flourishing industry in Dominicaiis the production 
of lime juice and other preparations from what is known as the 
West India lime—a small acid fruit allied to the lemon. This 
par 
and piy, the trees are pertectly healthy, and within such limits 
ə- are imposed by the commercial demand for the produce, the 
