150 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



used, as well as the grubber, drill, hoe, and harrow, on rich 

 alluvial flats. The pick, spade, or Indian hoe will be in 

 request on hilly land to put down a cane top until it will 

 grow. All mechanical contrivances, as well as hand labour, 

 will be needed to till the soil, and manures to renew its 

 fertility. The canes will be cut at the proper season of the 

 year instead of all the year through, as at present. This 

 practice is really a waste of products, which expediency can 

 scarcely excuse. About one-half of the canes are crushed 

 when the density of their juice is at the lowest, and therefore 

 yields a minimum amount of sugar. The canes are cut at the 

 end of the warm weather instead of at its commencement ; the 

 warm, wet season is the natural time of the year for the canes 

 growing, and the cold one for maturing them for the crop in 

 September, October, November, and perhaps December. When 

 cut in March or April the ratoon canes are made to grow 

 in cold dry weather, when they will grow least, and to ripen 

 during the hot, moist weather of December, January, February, 

 and March, when they will naturally grow most and ripen 

 least. Such practice is hors saison, and the want of success 

 and small returns are not surprising. By cutting the canes 

 during the months above mentioned, namely, September to 

 December, the ratoons grow in the proper season, i.e. the 

 warm and wet one, and the canes ripen during the cold one. 

 The crop is made when the density of the juice is at its highest, 

 and the canes yield the most sugar. 



It may be said that the best kind of cane to grow is the one 

 which yields a maximum quantity of sugar and gives a 

 minimum amount of work in cutting, carting, crushing, and 

 making sugar out of its juice. At the same time such a cane 

 must be hardy and healthy, grow rapidly, ratoon freely 

 and often, and be well suited to the climate of the locality in 



