60 MANUAL FOR SUGAR GROWERS. 



rived, even when preserved with the greatest care. 

 It seemed necessary to the author to emphasise this 

 statement, as he has so frequently heard planters 

 talk of " keeping cattle to make manure," and heard 

 objections to the use of tramways on sugar estates 

 on the ground that the lack of pen manure under 

 such a system would be fatal to successful manage- 

 ment ; and he has seen almost daily vegetable matter 

 carted long distances to put into the cattle-pens when 

 it should have been ploughed into the land on or 

 near which it grew. 



One important point of difference between farm- 

 ing in the tropics and in temperate climates may 

 here be insisted on. In temperate climates it is 

 desirable to have the farm-yard manure in a well- 

 rotted state, in order that it shall act quickly when 

 placed on the land. In the tropics decay takes 

 place so rapidly that the rotting of the manure be- 

 fore application to the land is almost, if not quite, 

 unnecessary ; if this is recognised a considerable 

 saving will result. 



Of course, a certain quantity of pen manure must 

 necessarily be produced from the ordinary working 

 of a sugar estate. This is extremely valuable and 

 should be preserved with all possible care. But to 

 endeavour by forced means to " make manure " is a 

 wasteful fallacy. The author's advice is to make 

 the health and comfort of the animals the first con- 

 sideration, giving them the most suitable food ob- 

 tainable and adding enough litter for bedding to 

 keep the pens dry and sweet ; to apply this manure 

 as quickly as possible, in good quantities at a time, 



