226 TRINIDAD. 



On every estate, therefore, there should be kept a book showing 

 the composition of the different cane-fields — such knowledge 

 being, in my opinion, the only rational means of determining 

 the best manure applicable to each field. 



I would urge, in order to obtain the best results, the necessity 

 of co-ordinately performing agricultural operations. It is very 

 generally assumed that it suffices, for securing success, to perfect 

 one of those important operations which modern agricultural 

 science counsels, the others being neglected. This is a great 

 mistake. Those various operations — viz., drainage, manuring, 

 the pulverisation of the soil by the means of implements, &c. — 

 however important they are, may signally fail if performed 

 singly ; or, at least, they will not produce permanent and com- 

 plete results. For instance, we do not derive from drainage all 

 the benefits we should expect if the ground has not been pre- 

 liminarily well prepared. Hence the great utility of modifying 

 the physical properties of the soil by the means of correctives, 

 and the addition of proper manures ; by deep ploughing, disin- 

 tegration of the subsoil, and by irrigation. Equally so with the 

 uses of the plough ; performed singly, and without the aid of 

 correctives, manures, &c, ploughing ultimately impoverishes the 

 land. On the other hand, manuring has not its full effect if 

 other circumstances do not favour vegetation ; in fact, manures 

 may then turn waste agents. 



It is, therefore, most important that all agricultural meliora- 

 tions should be performed concurrently and in unison. 



But it is only by adopting the system of intensive culture 

 that we can expect to carry out the above suggestions. On the 

 other hand, the adoption of the intensive system pre-supposes 

 the disjunction of agriculture and manufacture. In fact, they 

 are two distinct branches ; and it is not entirely due to the agri- 

 culturist that the beet-root has been able successfully to compete 

 with the sugar-cane ; a great deal of that success is attributable 

 to the assistance of chemistry and chemists, which taught the 

 beet growers the most scientific and most profitable method of 

 working. We know how to obtain the best sugar. Improve- 

 ments, however, should begin in the field, and planters should 

 look to one ton and a half, and even two tons, per acre, as an 

 average. 



Alimentary Articles. — Cerealia. — Indian corn or maize 





