The islands' earliest cash crop was tobacco, along with ginger and indigo dye. However, production from the Caribbean and North American colonies deflated the price resulting in an 18-month moratorium on St. Kitts tobacco farming in 1639. This prompted the production of sugar from sugar cane on St. Kitts in 1643, and on Nevis in 1648. Windmills were built to crush the canes and extract the juice. The planters grew prosperous and even rich, where Nevis became the richest British colony in the western hemisphere by 1652. By 1776, St. Kitts was the richest British colony per capita. Though indentured servants were common amongst the islands, fewer than half survived their servitude, and field work required African slaves. There were twice the number of slaves to Europeans on St. Kitts by the end of the 17th century. In 1675, the population on Nevis was about 8,000, half black. By 1780, the Nevis population had grown to 10,000, 90% black. The slaves had very harsh living and working conditions, only lasting eight to twelve years in the fields, and by the 18th century, two-fifths died within a year of arrival. About 22% died on the Middle Passage.
the islands' earliest cash crop was tobacco along with ginger and indigo dye however production from the caribbean and north american colonies deflated the price resulting in an 18-month moratorium on st kitts tobacco farming in 1639 this prompted the production of sugar from sugar cane on st kitts in 1643 and on nevis in 1648 windmills were built to crush the canes and extract the juice the planters grew prosperous and even rich where nevis became the richest british colony in the western hemisphere by 1652 by 1776 st kitts was the richest british colony per capita though indentured servants were common amongst the islands fewer than half survived their servitude and field work required african slaves there were twice the number of slaves to europeans on st kitts by the end of the 17th century in 1675 the population on nevis was about 8000 half black by 1780 the nevis population had grown to 10000 90% black the slaves had very harsh living and working conditions only lasting eight to twelve years in the fields and by the 18th century two-fifths died within a year of arrival about 22% died on the middle passage