MANUAL FOR SUGAR GROWERS. 39 



water, and would not be required to act as drains in 

 the true sense of the word ; this would reduce the 

 cost of opening and cleaning out trenches, and 

 greatly facilitate the cartage of the cane crop off the 

 land; the work of ploughing would also be rendered 

 easier, the deep trenches, frequently deepened and 

 widened by the action of the water, offer serious ob- 

 stacles to these operations, entailing considerable 

 outlay, and rendering the work of the cattle and 

 mules hazardous and cruel. With a system of tile 

 draining it will doubtless be possible to cultivate 

 the sugar-cane on land kept flat or nearly so, instead 

 of being " holed " as at present, in which case the 

 use of horse -hoes and weeding -machines will be 

 possible, thus reducing the expenses incidental to 

 the early stages of sugar-growing. 



