The Lesser Antilles : a Guide for Settlers in the
British West Indies By Owen T. Bulkeley. (Sampson Low and Co.)—Emigration to the West Indies is an idea that has a certain novelty about it. We commonly look upon them as "played out." Mr. Bulkeley is not of that opinion. He sees in them a promising field both for labour and for capital. Here is a balance-sheet. An emigrant is supposed to go with a capital of £100 :— Ten acres of virgin land, at 21 per acre £10 Clearing and planting same, at .22 per acre ... ... 20 Building cottage ...
Implements and six months' living ...
The settler will plant cacao-trees, and will support himself by growing and selling vegetables till these come into bearing. On ten acres there would be about 2,500 of these. These would yield about £30 a year. The returns on a larger capital show very well. Of course the small capitalist would "work out," and a white man can do much outdoor work. Cacao is not the only industry. There are many other things grown. Altogether, the picture drawn by Mr. Bulkeley is very rosy.
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