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bearing fruit of a considerable size, differing among them- 

 selves, as well as from the parent stock to which they are 

 inferior. They are, however, more perfect than plants ob- 

 tained from the seed of a crab, which produces trees all of 

 the same kind, and all bearing a sour diminutive fruit, re- 

 sembling that of the parent stock. So also the seed of the 

 turpentine-tasted Mango never grows up into an improved 

 variety, whilst that of the cultivated sort, known here by the 

 name of the No. XL, almost uniformly, in favourable situa- 

 tions, proves a good fruit. The reverse of this is practised 

 in the choice of cuttings for the cultivation of the Cane ; the 

 most worthless part of the stem being employed, and that 

 taken from the worst Canes on the property, the growth of 

 some worn-out piece of land, which, being unable to produce 

 Canes fit for sugar-making, is set aside for the purposes of a 

 nursery. Perhaps it is to this practice that we ought partly 

 to ascribe the deterioration of our Canes. 



The plant having appeared above ground, the bank left in 

 digging the cane-hole is returned and applied to the roots of 

 the Cane. Little is done for some time, except weeding. As 

 the Canes spring up, however, this operation is superseded ; 

 the weeds disappearing as the ground comes to be shaded. 

 About this time trashing becomes necessary. This is per- 

 formed by removing the lower leaves of the stem, or such as 

 have begun to fade, and laying them along the rows. The 

 superabundant suckers are at the same time removed. The 

 benefits of trashing are, that the Cane is enabled to shoot out ; 

 and as, after attaining a certain height, it is apt to bend near 

 the root and lodge, the bed of trash or dried leaves prevents 

 its touching the ground where it would be apt to root, to the 

 great injury of the quality of the sugar. The sun and air 

 also are enabled to penetrate to their stems, without which 

 they would never arrive at a proper state of maturation. 

 The importance of these agents, especially the first, is proved 

 by the influence which the solar light exercises in increasing 

 the proportion of carbon in plants; those which grow in 

 the shade having their juices watery, and their fibres little in- 

 flammable. As carbon, or charcoal, is one of the principal 



