276 TROPICAL AGRICULTURE CHAP. 



Weeding. weeding with the hoe or cultivator between the rows, care 

 must be taken not to turn up the soil too deeply, for other- 

 wise the lateral roots which bear the tubers will be injured 

 and thus interfere with the yield. 



The crop CROPS. Planting having been undertaken between Sep- 

 tember and May, the crops may be reaped in from eight to 

 twelve months afterwards, but the roots can be left in the 

 ground for a considerable time without injury. In harvest- 

 ing, the tubers are carefully lifted and separated from the 



Washing the fibrous roots, and washed so as to remove all adhering 

 earthy particles. They must then be manufactured into the 

 commercial product without delay, for they soon dry or decay 

 after they are dug up. 



Peelin the PREPARATION OF CASSAVA MEAL. The tubers, after they 

 tubers. have been washed, are divested of their dark-coloured rind 

 Grating. by being peeled with sharp knives. The peeled roots are 

 then reduced to a coarse meal by being pressed against a 

 rapidly revolving wheel covered with a copper or tin grating 

 surface, or they may be rubbed down to meal by means of a 

 flat tin grater nailed on a board. In the latter case, how- 

 ever, the operation is very laborious ; but, nevertheless, a 

 large portion of the cassava meal made in Dominica and 

 manVo?in elsewhere is prepared in this tedious way : the natives fix 

 Dominica, the large flat grater against a tub, and, leaning over it 

 with tubers in each hand, they grate quickly and rhythmi- 

 cally to the sound of a drum and they are encouraged to 

 extra exertions by the stimulating influence of inspiriting 

 local songs, and more often than not by large potations 

 Pressing out of intoxicatinsf drinks. The pulp is then put into ba^s 



the poison. . . 



ous juice. and pressed so as to force out the poisonous juice. The 

 Indians of Dominica and South America press the pulp 



mata ie ^Y means of curious baskets called matapies. These baskets 

 are made of plaited strips of the long smooth stems of a 

 native plant closely allied to that producing arrowroot, 

 empty the matapie is long and narrow, but when 



