361 
circumstance and the density of the —€— are no doubt the 
reasons why there are not in Barbados the complaints of the 
supply, or of the efficiency, p labour, which are so frequent 
elsewhere. 
212. In Barbados there is substantially but one industry, one 
product, and one export—that of sugar,—nor does the island appear 
to be suited for the growth of nage coffee, cocoa, or fruit, on a 
scale of any commercial (giock anc 
213. The value of the total ege orts of the — of the 
Colony in dut was 1001 0007, the value of sugar pesi, 
exported being 993,000/. ; that of the total exports in 1890 w 
1,041,000/., of Which sugar exports made up 1,032,000/. 
214. In 1896, when the value of the exports had fallen, the 
proportion contributed by the sugar industry remained about 
the same ; the figures were then 577,000/. for the total exports 
5 rts. 
215. The quantity of sugar exported in 1882 was 49,458 tons, 
in 1890, 76 ,/35 tons, pels the sateen amount recorded within this 
period, and i n 1896, 44,460 t The crop in 1895 was very 
seriously affected by drought pee disease, and in 1896 to some 
extent by the latter caus 
. There are no qus central sugar factories, the mills are 
small and many of them primitive, a large proportion of them 
e 
muscovado. But the industry has hitherto survived under these 
conditions, owing to the fact (1) that the manufacture of sugar 
by the old peers is thoroughly well understood and the culti- 
vation of the cane very carefully carried on ; (2) that there is an 
abundant pma supply; and (3) that the soil produces a cane 
containing juice of exceptional richness. 
217. The ave rage net cost of production was given to us 
as 8/. 12s. per ton, but, without going too closely into the accuracy 
of such figures, it is certain that at present prices, and under 
present conditions, the industry — hold its own, and a very 
serious reduction of it is immine 
It may be said, generally, that, whilst estates in favourable 
situations with favourable seasons may just make a profit, even at 
present prices, others are being worked ata loss. The estates in 
Barbados are, as a rule, very heavily mortgaged, and advances for 
carrying on cultivation are only to ad obtained Mae increasing 
difficulty. Such advances are becoming more necessary every 
year, as the working capital of the proprietors is ME Mori Any 
additional ey: such as a bad season or two, would cause 
eren disaster. 
Were estates are now being carried on under the 
Agricultural Aids Act, which makes money advanced for piden. 
an estate a first char rge on the growing crop. The 
Eg ias yearly in this way is increasing, and amounted to 100, "m 
in 
220. It must be borne in mind, when judging of the figures 
given for the working of estates in S res that there was a con- 
siderable rise in the price of sugar he early months of that 
year. 'lhis rise was generally Rim ted to speculation ns 
upon the great interference with production in Cuba. Whatever 
