190 



SUGAE. 



in operation, which have dispensed with a part of this security, and 

 which partially depend for supplies on the growers' self-interest. It 

 was, in fact, taken for granted by their projectors that the planters 

 would sell their canes rather than make sugar themselves. This cal- 

 culation was more than justified by the event. Canes are now coming 

 to these factories from most unexpected sources, and from distances 

 of 8 and 10 miles. Further proof is scarcely needed to show that the 

 planters are deriving benefit from the new system. Though the 

 extent of that benefit cannot of course be known, a notion of it can be 

 formed from the price given for the canes. The lowest price offered 

 by the Usines is the market value of 5 lbs. of the best common process 

 sugar for every 100 lbs. of canes ; and this is only 1 per cent, less on 

 the average than is obtained by those planters who incur the risk, 

 anxiety, and expense of manufacture. There is, however, more definite 

 knowledge as to the profits of the manufacturer, who so far deserves 

 them that he produces the best sugar yet exported from the West 

 Indies. " The Usine of Frangois," established in 1866, in the subse- 

 quent four years declared dividends as follows : in 1867, 19 per cent. ; 

 in 1868, 37 per cent. ; in 1869, 48 per cent. ; and in 1870, 36 per 

 cent.; the decrease in the latter year was merely the result of the 

 disasters in France, which receives the bulk of the Martinique sugars. 



Grenada. — The great difficulty with which planters here have to 

 contend is the paucity of labour and the badness of the roads. 

 Whereas in this island nature is so bountiful that a family with but 

 little labour can raise their own fruit and vegetables on an acre or 

 two of land, where also, from the habits of the negroes and the 

 climate, their wants and requirements are but few, it cannot be 

 expected that they will labour on estates more days than sufficient 

 to supply such requirements. Moreover, on the abandoned estates, 

 they can squat unmolested, and do so in large numbers. 



The exports have been as follows : 



Year. 



Sugar. 



Eum. 





tons. 



galls. 



1869 



3,254 



131,243 



1870 



3,880 



70,775 , 



1871 



5,256 



65,950 



St. Vincent — The following table gives a comparison of the ex- 

 ported produce of this colony : 



Year. 



Sugar. 



Rum. 



Molasses. 





hhds. 



puns. 



puns. 



1862 



8,503 

 8,756 



1,827 



305 



1863 



1,554 



409 



1864 



8,163 



1,284 



1,418 



1865 



8,454 



1,794 



916 



1866 



10,984 



1,796 



1,063 



1867 



11,137 



1,683 



1,209 



1868 



11,248 



1,634 



. 1,359 



1869 



11,164 



358 



3,783 



1870 



12,948 



2,155 



1,638 



1871 



13,315 



2,656 



953 



