Ill 



constituents of sugar, we may readily see how a free exposure 

 to the sun's rays favours the formation of it in the Cane. 



We have to recollect, however, that we may carry the 

 trashing too far, especially if the climate be dry, or the 

 season of the year be such that no rains are to be expected. 

 An object with us in such cases ought to be, to protect the 

 soil from a too direct exposure to the sun's rays. Besides, by 

 stripping the plant, we deprive it of one of its principal 

 sources whence it has to draw a supply of moisture denied 

 by the soil. For we know, that, by a beautiful arrangement 

 in the economy of Nature, the hotter the weather is, the 

 quantity of water in the state of vapour contained by the 

 atmosphere, is in proportion increased. During the dry 

 months of July and August, when the ground is parched up, 

 apparently without a drop of moisture, the Cane, by the 

 power of absorption in the leaves, draws in from the at- 

 mosphere around, as well as from the dews at night, a supply 

 sufficient for the purposes of life. 



On the south side of the island, where the seasons are 

 more regular, so that a certain portion of the year can be 

 calculated on as wet, and another as dry, it is usual to com- 

 mence crop immediately after the autumnal rains, and ter- 

 minate previously to the May seasons. On the north side, 

 on the contrary, the north-east winds, which commence in 

 November and prevail till the middle of April, are always 

 accompanied with heavy rains. Hence, the islanders labour 

 under the disadvantage of having no stated crop-time, but 

 cut Canes whenever the weather promises fair. Besides, it is 

 well known that saccharine and mucilaginous matter is most 

 abundant in all plants, and more especially in the joints of 

 the grasses, during winter ; whence the superiority of fiorin, 

 (Agrostis alba,) a jointed grass, over all others, as a winter 

 fodder. The same is the case with the Cane during the cold 

 season of the year — for we have a winter not the less severely 

 felt by these, the delicate productions of tropical vegetation. 

 We see its presence in the chilled aspect of Nature: our 

 meadows are bare, the growth of every thing is checked, and 

 Flora decks herself in a less gaudy attire. At this time the 



VOL. I. I 



