Boiling Down Sugar The Rise of Barbados Sugar Wealth. Sugarcane growing began in Barbados in the early 1640s, when Dutch merchants introduced sugar cane harvesting. The island's soil and favourable climate made it an ideal location for harvesting sugar. By the mid-17th century, Barbados had become one of the wealthiest colonies in the British Empire, earning the nickname "Little England."By the mid-17th century, Barbados had turned into one of the wealthiest colonies in the British Empire, making the nickname "Little England." But all was not sweetness in the land of Sugar as we discover next: The Dangerous Labour Behind Sugar In the glare of Barbados' sun-soaked shores and lively plant lies a darker tale of strength and challenge-- the dangerous labour behind its once-thriving sugar economy. Central to this story is the big cast iron boiling pots, important tools in the sugar production procedure, however also harrowing symbols of the gruelling conditions ...