EXPORTS— SUGAR. 239 



Canes are cut at a growth of between twelve and fifteen months. 

 The crop commences as soon as the weather permits — say, in the 

 beginning of January, and continues till June, when the rainy 

 season sets in. Advantage is also taken of good weather towards 

 the end of the year — in the fall, as it is called — viz., in October 

 and November. 



A system of culture had obtained in Trinidad during the time 

 of slavery, the apparent advantages of which are, in my opinion, 

 more than counterbalanced by its disadvantages ; it is known as 

 the stand-over system. Canes, though ripe, are allowed to stand 

 over for the next crop, at which time they are from twenty to 

 twenty-two months old. This system was mainly followed in 

 the Naparimas, and it is only there that some of its advantages 

 become apparent ; the yield per acre is undoubtedly better, but 

 the canes have been left growing for, at least, eighteen or twenty 

 months, instead of being cut at twelve and fifteen months ; and 

 a larger acreage should be kept under cultivation. The system 

 shows its advantages only where the soil is clayed, as in the 

 Naparimas, for instance ; but canes do not stand over in light 

 soils, even of the best quality ; they dry up or decay before they 

 can be cut, as has been experienced in Tacarigua, St. Joseph, 

 and Chaguanas. 



It is only lately that the plough has passed into general use ; 



for many years only a few planters would employ it ; even now 



some object to its adoption. The pretext for retaining the hoe 



was the nature of the soil, in some districts it being clayey and 



the ground undulating, also the damage caused by the heavy 



showers which prevail during the planting season, by which the 



loosened soil is washed down the slopes. The steam plough has 



been introduced, and is worked with marked advantage in flat 



districts. Another useful instrument is the fork ; it is especially 



, employed in turning up clods in the cane pieces, where other 



I implements could not be worked without injuring the growing 



I crop; also in hurrying the cane tracts. The horse-hoe and 



cultivator are used for weeding the young plants. So far, much 



progress may be said to have been achieved during the last 



fifteen or twenty years. 



There are two planting seasons — from May to the end of July ; 

 the practice should be followed only on those estates where soil 

 is gravel or sandy, as by February the plants are strong enough 



