Sugar. The sugar-cane flourishes here remarkably well; and, from the great abundance of water, the cane is not likely to be attacked by the insect called the “borer,” which does so much destruction at Mauritius.
There are already in the colony seven sugar mills, some of considerable power. Large portions of the country are being planted with the cane, and it is said that this virgin soil yields from three to four tons of sugar per acre.
The supply at present is not great, as the colonists are hampered for want of labour, more especially that labour adapted for the sugar-cane, which appears to be found in Indian or Chinese coolie labour. As soon as facilities are afforded to the colony of Natal for coolie labour, similar to that employed at Mauritius, the yield of this article alone will be enormous; there being at least 1,280,000 acres of the soil, irrespective of what may be more appropriately devoted to cotton, capable of producing sugar. It may be confidently asserted that the supply of Natal sugar will not equal the demand. Its saccharine properties have been proved by Mr. Milne, the great sugar-refiner at Bristol, to be stronger than the Mauritius sugar, and not surpassed by the best Trinidad. Already, from the balcony of one house, no less than seven shafts can be seen puffing away the fumes of boiling syrup; and, when labour is supplied to Natal, this necessary for the artisan of the mother country will be supplied at a much reduced price, completely driving slave-grown sugar out of the market. The growing of mealies, or Indian corn, may be carried on at the same time as that of sugar. The mealies ought to be grown in every other row of the cane, and about twice the distance apart of the cane roots. By this means the young canes are protected, and provision is made for the labourers without impoverishing the ground or materially increasing the labour of the cane-fields.
Indigo. Many varieties of indigo grow luxuriantly and wild in the colony; almost justifying the thought that on this side of Africa the plant is indigenous, although we are aware that on the west coast it was introduced by the Jesuits, and perhaps also, by way of the Zambesi, into the interior.
Large factories are being erected for the manufacture of indigo; and, in order that it may be thoroughly successful, arrangements have been made for the introduction of persons who have been already acquainted with its manufacture in the island of Java.
Tobacco. The cultivation of tobacco has been carried on for some considerable time, but on a very small scale, in consequence of the want of labour. Two crops may be grown in the year; and there is an ample market for it already in the colony, which imports annually thousands of pounds weight of the real Virginia.
On the higher terraces inland, to a great extent, wheat, oats, barley, and other cereals are grown; while the climate of those districts admirably suits them for the pasturage and rearing of sheep and cattle, with which they may be said already to abound.
The export of wool, from the neighbouring Boer Settlement of the Orange Free State, through Natal, is increasing rapidly, while the enterprise of the young Natalians has given them access to the ivory grounds of the Zulus, who prefer dealing with them rather than with the Transvaal Republic Boers.
Coffee and Arrowroot. The following testimony to the quality of Natal coffee and arrowroot was forwarded last year to Natal:—