February i, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
533 
PLANTING AND INDUSTRY IN FIJI. 
A parcel of bechc-de-mer was recently sold by our 
local auctioneer Mr. D. Paul, and good prices were 
realised. Teat fish brought £70 per tou and black 
fish £51 10s. The figures make our mouths water 
these hard times, and the question is continually asked 
when arc the present absurd regulations to be abo- 
lished. I know not what amount of reliability may 
be placed on the assertion, but it is continually stated by 
many that the shore reefs are very prolific in this slug. 
Much anxioty is at present occasioned as to what 
industry in the way of planting is to be next tried 
in Fiji by way of helping to lift the country out of 
its present slough of despond. Sugar at the ruling 
market rate, barely pays, and is only suited to men 
of largo capital. Copra is not to be thought of for 
uew men to commence fresh plantations on their own 
account, although the present cocoauut properties 
are not to be despised, and may profitably, be en- 
larged by their present holders. For cattle there is 
no consumption, and present stock owners are any- 
thing but fortunate in their possessions. Coffee does 
not pay, so it is assorted. All cannot go into the 
fruit trade, so land owners are at their wits end 
for a profitable article to cultivate. Tea is looked upon 
with favor, but the present rate of labor is consi- 
derably in advance ; of Oeylon, where it is alleged 
labor can be procured at Gd. per diem, against our 
Is. to Is. Cd., according to the kind of labor employed. 
It is generally thought there is amplo Fijian lubdr 
available if it were only directed by the Government 
into proper channels. However, whatever efforts are 
to be made to create a new industry, they will have, 
in a considerable measure, to be fostered by the 
Legislature of the country. The Government will 
have to evince in practice that it is desirous of assist- 
ing, in place, as heretofore, of retarding the planting 
interests of the eountry. It is only the initiation of 
some such policy that will put uew hearts into the 
few remaining settlors, and so retain their interest 
and bard-earned experience to the country. Other- 
wise, Walter will soon be tho name of the last small 
planter in Fiji. In Oeylon, tea planting has lifted 
the planters from deep distress to competence if not 
wealth. Ami why not in Fiji? Last year Ceylon had 
some 120,000 acres of tea planted and is increasing 
the area at the rate of tens of thousands of acres 
yearly. Fiji is -spoken of as being particularly adapt- 
ed for tea planting, and it is reported, that at Mr. 
.Mason's tea plantation at Taviuui, the estimated out- 
turn of the crop for tho year was exceeded by 5000 
lbs. in tho first half of the year. Surely this is pro- 
miaiiig enough for others to give tho industry a trial. 
— liji Times. 
+ 
THE PRESENT AND FUTURE PROSPECTS 
OF THK CANE SUGAR AND OTHER 
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES 
IN TRINIDAD, 
DT 
JlMEfl L. O'Connor, 
Chairman of the District Agricultural Board of tin 
Xaparima Ji'anl Union. 
The groat struggle which for many years past has 
been going oil between the Beet and Cane Sugar 
Industries, and which has recently not only reduced 
to nn alarming extent tho Public Revenue, but now 
even threatens to sweep away an Iudustry to which 
the Colony oivh tho high position it has attained 
among the British po-stiMiions in this pirt of the 
world, || my ciciimi for submit ting this paper to your 
consideration. But 1 must in the u r »t placo crav» 
the indulgence of tho planting body if my criticisms 
should appear to tlmm to lie rather severe. Nn one 
can doubt tho fact that If their position hubeaoma 
■Q cntiral, it i.ilue neither to a want of intelligence 
nor energy on their p»rt, but ,,, „ Kr ,,„i m ,,,, urp 
to circuiustanro* beyond their control, which, however 
may bu so altered an to operate favourably in restoring 
their prosperity. 
It is hardly necessary to enter here into the various 
causes which have brought about the great depression 
iu the sugar market, but I shall endeavour to show 
how it should be met, and what chances there are 
of competing successfully with an adversary which 
can hardly become moro formidable than it is at present, 
owing to the fact that the great intellects engaged 
in promoting its success appear to have almost reached 
the limits of scientific researches bearing on its pro- 
duction, and it is indeed fortunate that such is not 
the case with the cane sugar industry, otherwise there 
would be no alternative than its entire abandonment. 
In glanciDg over the history of the past, what do 
we find? — that although the producers of beet sugar 
have been progressing with gigantic strides towards 
the attainment of a rapid decrease in the cost of 
production, we have been moving onward it is true 
towards the same end, but only at what may not be 
inaptly termed a snail's pace. 
The following figuros will, I think, fully bear out 
my statement, and show at the same time the extra- 
ordinary results brought about by the introduction in 
the Beet industry of the Diffusion system, which it 
cannot be doubted will produce still greater results 
when adopted in connection with the manufacture 
of Cane Sugar. 
w-2 
o t o ' 
Sr — ' 
aj a 
tx o . 
g t« 
o v 
u a; rs 
£ c3 (- i— 
o 3 =« a , 
O o u «J "2 
P5oOOOOOr-t.HOr-l-l.-t — 
u N-s o ^ r*oi T r- a N(M 
-HHl-OTTCOajt^X^i-?^ 
^?i!i«gh:ico--icoo 
-j 75 o t~ I o O iff *T — < ffi C: to iff "*f 
. n ti N n 53 h -i : i o i - n in o 
tfcOOSXCiOOOOCiCI KOOOiClO 
1 a n O 
&) a -Q .2 
O „ CO 
Ps a E 
O Cm 
s 3 1 
T= 72 j 
2 « 
CO 
° £ 
yi-wc-owoooi-pjooiooou: 
M"5 53rcr!'e-OCOOaOO-T 1 <TiffcOi>-r~ 
HHHJI«TIOtOtDOOQ<JJffiO)C10)a 
~ n 11 fS3 2 '2 10 L ' : > "2 -* *' t- o o 
-T iff O -t O -TO « -<T O I- X< T 5 c5 
co T>r— To' co crrco"co"c^o"-T qo trT-T* r*i e-C 
* .~ -r > ~. — .-. __ _ — — 
Jr-IClC7>M?3-HOCOrH-<COCO?lCOrt 
j»OOiio-;Or<HOco-H»lHp(CN 
a 
o 
u 
o 
p. • 
a 
a) . 
|a 
CO g> 
— o 
CM u 
cd 
(m a. 
3D S 
.2 » 
Tho difficulties by which the cine sug*. producers 
are hampered, and which threaten them with ruiu, do 
not appear to be insurmountable, neither are the 
measures to be adopted in order to revive tho industry 
on a more solid basis impracticable, but the difficulty 
to be apprehended will probably bo fouud in the 
hesitation and unreasonable objections that may be 
raised by the timorous as to tbe remedial agenoies 
to be a lopted. 
In the first placo the subject of a proper supply 
of labour is of paramount imp irtanre, an t the sacri- 
fices to bo mfull) to render such Ubour remunerative 
must uot bo overlooked. 
In bygouo years, during a loug period of fCMl 
doprcssion, caused ly the low pries* of sugar tv^ 
