NWATURAL 
eighteen inches in the rows, and 
four feet asunder from row to 
row ; other labourers follow, and, 
with the foot, press the set about 
two inches in the soft mud-like soil : 
this, with asweep or two with the 
sole of the foot, they most easily 
and readily cover: nothing more is 
done, if the weather is moderately 
showery, till the young shoots are 
some two or three inches high ; the 
earth is then loosened a few inches 
around them, with a small weeding 
iron, something like a carpenter’s 
chissel : should the season prove 
dry, the field is occasionally watered 
from the river, continuing to weed, 
and to keep the earth loose about 
the stools. 
In August, two or threé months 
from the time of planting, small 
trenches are cut through the field, 
at short distances, and so contrived 
as to drain off the water, should the 
season prove too wet for the canes, 
which is frequently the case, and 
would render their juices weak and 
unprofitable ; the farmer, therefore, 
never fails to have his field plenti- 
fully and judiciously intersected with 
drains, while the cane is small, and 
before the time of the violent rains. 
Should the season prove too dry, 
these drains serve to conduct the 
water from the river, through the 
field, and also to carry off what 
does not soak into the earth ina 
few hours ; for, say they, if water 
is permitted to remain upon the 
field for a greater length of time, the 
cane waquid suffer by it, so that they 
reckon these drains indispensibly ne- 
cessary ; and, on their being well- 
contrived, depends, in a great mea- 
gure, their future hopes of profit. 
Immediately after the field is treach- 
ed, the canes are all propped ; this 
is an operation I do not remember 
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HISTORY: 823° 
to have seen mentioned by any wri- 
ter on the subjeét, and is, perhaps, 
peculiar to these parts. It is done 
as follows: The canes are now about 
three feet high, and generally from 
three to six from each set that has 
taken root, and from what we may 
call the stool; the lower leaves of 
each cane are first carefully wrapt 
up round it, so as to cover it com- 
pletely in every part; asmall strong, 
bamboo, eight or ten feet long, is 
then stuck into the earthin the mid- 
dle of each stool, and the canes are. 
tied to it; this secures them in an 
erect position, and gives the air free 
access round every part. As the 
canes advance in size, they continue 
wrapping them round with the lower. 
leaves, as they begin to wither, and 
to tie them to the prop bamboos 
higher up, during which time, if 
the weather is wet, they keep the 
trenches open; and if a drought 
prevails, they water them occasion- 
ally from the river, cleaning and 
loosening the ground every five or 
six weeks. Tying the leaves so care- 
fully round the cane, they say, pre- 
vents them from cracking and split- 
ting with the sun, helps to render 
the juice richer, and prevents their 
branching out round the sides; it is 
certain that you never see a branchy 
cane here. gh 
In January and February the 
canes are ready to cut, which is 
about nine months from the time of 
planting ; of course I need not de- 
scribe it. Their height when stand- 
ing in the field, will now be from 
eight to ten feet, foliage included ; 
and the naked cane from an inch 
to an inch and a quarter in diame- 
ter. 
A mill or two, or even more, ace 
cording to the size of the field, is 
erected, when wanted, in the open’ 
3G 4 
