117. Phenomenon manifested in (he Sugar-Cunr. 



minds of the Planters by leading them to fancy that the 

 disease existing at Bourbon for several years was now about 

 to inflict its ravages upon their plantations, that I was in- 

 duced to study it and investigate its causes. I therefore 

 beg to submit to you to day my observations on the condi- 

 tion of the canes in the Savane, and the probable cause of 

 the alteration they have experienced ; a phenomenon, 

 which I now attempt to elucidate for you in some manner, 

 fully persuaded that you will not hesitate (should my re- 

 marks appear satisfactory to you) to communicate them in 

 the promptest manner to the public and the Planters who 

 are so deeply interested in the question. 



Observing in the first place that not knowing, or rather 

 being only imperfectly acquainted with the symptoms of 

 the disease which developed itself in the canes of the neigh- 

 bouring Island, I am consequently unable to specify whe- 

 ther the effects presented in the canes which I examined 

 in the Savane, are identical ; I must therefore, limit my 

 observations here to what I have actually seen and ob- 

 served. 



I do not admit, as I have heard say, that this phenomenon 

 is attributable to the manures employed in the Island. 

 Nor can I attribute it to the carelessness or ignorance of 

 the Planters, to the exhaustion of the soil, or, still less, to 

 the weakening of the shoots, for the simple reason that 

 this phenomenon became apparent at the same time in 

 canes manured with Guano and a Jauflret, in those grown 

 in new land which had never been manured, in virgin 

 canes, in those from the repousses, and in those even newly 

 planted in December last. 



On the other hand, the disease having exercised but 

 feeble influence on canes which were abandoned, we should 



