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WINTER VEGETABLES

The third year of tomato growing for the northern winter market proved a failure. Variable weather throughout the planting and growing season, together with certain pests, increased costs and decreased yields to the end that losses were suffered. The first year showed profit on small acreage; the second year showed an even break on larger plantings. Every crop in these islands is subject more or less to these same variations, and success can be determined only by averages. Few men, however, can or will take the risks particularly attendant upon the more perishable products subject not only to weather but to the uncertainties of the New York commission market.

There were also two unsuccessful attempts made by northern seed houses to multiply here, during the winter, their seeds of the previous summer. These experiments met with the same unfortunate weather conditions as did tomato growing; but the advantages of double seed multiplication in a single year are so obvious and the possibilities so great that such experiments will inevitably continue and ultimately succeed.

HOMESTEADING
ST. CROIX

The past year witnessed the best progress yet made in the homesteading program in St. Croix. By June 30, 1935, Federal homesteaders had increased to 255. Of these, all but 34 are the original allottees. Their plots comprise over 1,400 acres, of which 1,010 acres are under cultivation for the 1936 crop. The average homesteader is already cultivating 50 percent more land than he had as a renter. A few are lone women who have shown unexpectedly good results.

The average homestead consists of slightly less than 6 acres, and the average price for a plot is $210, requiring an annual payment of $16, including interest, on a 20-year payment plan. For those desiring them, houses are built on separate contracts on similar terms. Cultivation aids, including tractor plowing, stumping, etc., are also rendered by the Government, repayable in installments. The installments of all kinds due the Government for 1934 and 1935 totaled $10,652.07. Of this, $9,485.47 has been paid and most of the balance will be paid during the next few months.

For the grinding season ended June 30, 1935, 211 St. Croix homesteaders sold cane to mills and distilleries valued at $18,985.98, of which $6,414.50 went for homestead installments, leaving $12,571.48 net to homesteaders. The first 50 averaged $177.07 gross from their sugar crop ($134.58 after paying installments), which may seem woefully low to those not familiar with local conditions, but which must

be compared with the $75 which the average St. Croix field laborer earns by about 25 weeks' work in a year. In addition, the homesteader had the benefit of provisions grown on his plot.

Federal homesteading in St. Croix has been supplemented by two municipal projects which add nearly 100 small farmers to the number who are working toward the partial independence of land ownership. Negotiations are under way for the purchase of 630 additional acres to provide for another 60 to 70 families.

ST. THOMAS

Homesteading in St. Thomas differs greatly in character, purpose, and results from that in St. Croix. With 90 percent of its people concentrated in its harbor-minded town, there is no great land interest and unfortunately little good soil. However, with the decline of harbor activities, the need to promote such little agriculture as is possible encouraged the purchase of the Lindbergh Bay estate for the joint purpose of tourist development and a homesteading project.

Of the over 60 plots, totaling 300 acres, most are now under contract, and 123 acres are in cultivation. A tractor, a plow, and experienced direction, have been provided to aid these new farmers Cultivation includes vegetables and fruits, grass, and lately sugar. cane for the small mill of a local rum distiller.

Adverse weather conditions and inexperienced workers have com. bined to make a poor financial showing for the year, with many failing to meet installments due. In all worthy cases, the Homestead Commission has exercised its authority to postpone payments when default is not due to neglect. Replacement of those found unsatisfactory is gradually resulting in an improved homestead colony, from whom better results can be confidently expected.

HOMESTEAD HOUSING

The housing operations incident to the homesteading program have been eagerly welcomed by homesteaders. Over 50 houses are to be provided in St. Croix, and about half that number are already completed. In St. Thomas, nine families are already living in their new homes. These are 2- to 4-room houses of concrete or stone construction. With 20 years to pay, the installments are no higher than previous rental costs.

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

In all phases of land development, the agricultural experiment stations in St. Croix and St. Thomas have rendered valuable extension and advisory service as well as direct aids. They have cooperated particularly in homestead development, where many of the new

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farmers had had inadequate land experience and where mechanized cultivation was new to all of them.

Special service is being rendered the reviving rum industry by experiments to determine the most desirable types of cane, fermentation methods, etc. The principal crop experiments of the year concerned development of improved forage crops. The station in St. Croix maintains a plant-quarantine service to protect agriculture in the island. At the station in St. Thomas, quarantine cultivation. plots for sugarcane and cotton are maintained where new varieties imported into the islands are tested out for disease before being allowed to enter St. Croix and endanger the industry there.

The veterinary service of the stations has been active in promoting improved breeds of cattle, pigs, goats, and poultry, and in the control of disease among all kinds of livestock. Treatment and control measures for equine epizootic, prevalent in preceding years, resulted in decrease from 797 cases last year to 217 cases this year. Officials of the stations continued to inspect and certify all livestock for export and import. Increased exports of cattle resulted in increased activity under this heading.

HANDICRAFT

In the previous annual report, the most successful year yet enjoyed by the Handcraft Cooperatives of St. Thomas and St. John was recorded. It is gratifying to be able to report this year sales nearly two and one-half times those of last year's record high. With F. E. R. A. aid this year reduced to teaching projects only, the cooperatives have made splendid progress on their own capital. The scope of their service has been expanded, their activities have increased, their operations have been profitable, and their financial condition at the end of the year is more sound than ever. Handicraft sales have increased sixfold, from $3,978.52 in 1931 to $23,371.67 (exclusive of rugs) in 1934-35. Export and tourist sales represent 91 per cent of this record total. Sales for the first 6 months of 1935 exceed the entire sales of 1934. In addition, rug sales for the year totaled $5,487.10. The $4,000 loan from the municipality of St. Thomas and St. John, with which the cooperatives were originally financed, has been repaid all but $577, and the cooperatives today have a net worth of $6,070.66, represented by cash and inventory.

Over 300 men, women, and girls have been employed by the cooperatives on a whole or part-time basis during the past year. The cooperatives have paid out in wages or for outright purchases of local handicraft, $15,916.39, in addition to $4,639.20 paid in wages through the hooked-rug division, making a total of $20,555.59 added to the

income of the poorer people of the island through this activity. Federal aid to accomplish this end totaled only about 12 percent of the increment to the people. Operating expenses charged to the cooperatives represented but 11.3 percent of the total sales.

Both increased tourist sales and increased exports to the United States account for the improved handicraft trade. Sales activities on the mainland are being actively pushed, principally through a New York representative. Organized production has so improved during the past year that the demand has been met, though this is considerably greater than it has ever been before. Workers are being trained and added as fast as possible to meet the added demand which it is believed can be created once the output warrants it.

Hooked rugs.-During the year, nearly 4,000 rugs totaling over 25,000 square feet have been produced. The pay rolls of this division, $4,639.20, have been helpful in meeting employment needs among women. But, as a commercial enterprise, from a cash-profit standpoint, this activity has not been successful because Japanese rugs have flooded the United States market at prices below local costs for raw materials and labor. Under these conditions, a strike for higher wages by local hooked-rug workers during the year could have no result other than the replacement of the strikers by others willing to work at the existing rates. At these rates, earnest workers earn the equivalent of local wage rates for similar labor.

The competition with low-priced Japanese rugs entering the United States market is a grave problem affecting the very existence of this activity. It is earnestly hoped that the President will move to protect this local industry in common with the industry in other parts of the United States, by providing a protective tariff on this item.

Pottery. This division of the handcraft cooperatives has been temporarily suspended. With increasing business in sight, the half dozen trained workers demanded consecutive increases for their products until they were no longer salable, the factory closed, and the workers returned to the unemployed class.

After considerable research, a native clay has been found that appears suitable for a more desirable development of this activity. For this purpose, funds are needed to provide a modern kiln and the services of a capable potter to instruct deserving native workers.

Mahogany craft.-Modern woodworking equipment for establishing a woodworking factory in St. Thomas has been secured on a F. E. R. A. grant for capital for a cabinetmakers cooperative. Involved organization details have unfortunately delayed actual establishment of this cooperative.

Jams and jellies.-The cooperatives have been inactive in these items during the past year. A private project in St. Thomas, set

up by an experienced man from the States, has created an outlet for preserved native fruits marketed in attractive native basket containers. The demand exceeded the supply, and the project demonstrated possibilities for development of a new local industry using local products almost exclusively. This project is worthy of every encouragement possible.

LABOR

Increased employment resulting from the activities of the National Recovery Program led to labor troubles in both St. Croix and St. Thomas during the fiscal year. In March 1935 labor trouble in St. Croix was settled by an arrangement through which the minimum agricultural wage was raised from 45 cents to 60 cents a day, which was accepted by the Virgin Islands Co., the largest employer of labor in the island. In St. Thomas labor troubles occurred at the Army engineering project for filling of the Lindbergh Bay swamp. Coming from a similar project in Puerto Rico, the dredge was followed to St. Thomas by some of the workers who had been employed on the Puerto Rican project. Following their general practice of paying the prevailing wage of communities in which they undertake work, the Army project in St. Thomas was initiated at the prevailing wage rate here for similar labor, which was 15 cents an hour, as compared with 25 cents an hour paid on the Puerto Rican project. Incited by the Puerto Rican laborers, a strike was organized on the Lindbergh Bay project, with a demand for 25 cents an hour, the strikers resorting to intimidation to prevent replacement from the long list of unemployed workers available through the public-welfare department.

After 3 days of unsuccessful negotiation, the Governor intervened, and on May 10, 1935, announced an increase in the general Government wage scale for manual labor in the municipality of St. Thomas and St. John of 5 cents an hour, thus permitting the dredge authorities to raise their rate to 20 cents an hour. This rate was accepted by the strikers, and work proceeded normally thereafter. Later, a general increase in the Government wage scale was made also in St. Croix, including a further increase in agricultural wages (these had been raised only a few months before) from 60 cents to 75 cents a day. Strikes by bakers and by coal workers in St. Thomas, influenced by the strike on the Government project, were promptly settled, with some increase in wages.

ORGANIZATION OF LABOR BOARDS

In announcing the increase in wage rates, the Governor appointed a labor board for St. Thomas, stating its purpose to be the constitu

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