SUGAR. 



189 



Sf. Lucia. — The crop of 1871 was the largest ever produced in the 

 island. The shipments have been : 











]Vf o1rss6S. 







1868 

 1869 

 1870 

 1871 



lbs. 



11,118,829 

 10,517,725 

 12,444,153 

 12,918,960 



galls. 

 191,400 

 205,000 

 153,000 

 234,800 



galls. 



2,058 

 1,840 

 2,461 

 9,316 





The increased production of sugar in St. Lucia is attributed rather 

 to extended area of cultivation than to improvement in culture. That 

 less energy is shown in the latter respect is considered to be owing — 

 in a measure — to the extraordinary fertility of the soil, which, not 

 uncommonly, produces a crop from the same cane plants for twenty 

 years in succession; whereas, in most other countries, the fields 

 require to be planted every two or three years. The system of agri- 

 culture, as in most of the West India Islands, is somewhat rude ; but 

 signs of efforts to improve it are not altogether wanting. Virgin soil 

 is being broken for the purpose in all directions ; and while no estates 

 have latterly been abandoned, some have been reclaimed, and others, 

 which a few years ago grew little else but weeds and trees, are now 

 yielding abundant crops. 



Besides extension of cultivation, there is a progress in manufacture 

 which makes further improvement probable, and will certainly render 

 it more easy. Steam power is gradually superseding all other for 

 grinding purposes. Fourteen steam mills were imported in 1870, of 

 which seven replaced others that had been moved by wind, water, or 

 cattle, and seven were destined for newly-opened estates. To meet 

 any reduction in prices, improvement in the quality of the sugar 

 grown upon this island, which is almost exclusively of the low class, 

 is without doubt of the first importance. The estates are, for the 

 most part, too small to support singly expensive works, such as pro- 

 duce the crystallized sugar of Demerara ; and on this account the 

 co-operative system, which has achieved extraordinary results in the 

 neighbouring colony of Martinique, would appear to offer by far the 

 best prospect of success. Its chief distinctive feature is the entire 

 separation of agriculture from manufactm*e. Though co-operation has 

 proved useful for the introduction of the system, and has tended greatly 

 to enhance its profits, it is not essential to it. Before this innovation 

 every sugar planter in the West Indies was also a manufacturer. He 

 not only grew canes, but ground them, and turned their juice into sugar. 



Under the Martinique system, the division of labour is complete. 

 The planter is merely a planter, and sugar making is an entirely 

 separate occupation. A central " Usine " manufactures the canes of a 

 number of neighbouring estates, and pays for them by weight, irre- 

 spective of the sugar produced ; so that the planter, after delivering 

 the raw produce, has no further concern with it, and he is enabled to 

 devote his capital and energy exclusively to the improvement of his 

 cultivation. The first factories were established under agreement as 

 to full supplies of material with the neighbouring planters, who also 

 furnished a considerable portion of the capital. But now others are 



