THE HUSBANDRY OF THE CANE. 



cultivation of the cane when forking bmJcs, i.e., turning over with thejfork the 

 soil between the rows of cane. The shovel, Fij. 27, is used in Demerara in 

 preparing the seed bed, and in digging drains. 



Animal and Power Implements. With few exceptions the 

 same implements that are employed in the husbandry of other plants find use 

 with the cane ; these include steam, gang ploughs, turn or mould- 

 board, shovel and disc ploughs, harrows, tongue and disc cultivators. 

 In this connection it is of interest to note that so long ago as 1848 

 Wray in the Practical Sugar Planter advocated the use of steam 

 ploughs and of cultivators ; he illustrated a turn plough operated by 

 one engine on the cable and anchor system; the horse hoes and 

 cultivators that he showed (and the use of which he strongly 

 advocated) differ but in detail from those in use at the present 

 time. His remarks on the use of these instruments are as true 

 to-day as they were two generations back, and are therefore quoted 

 below : 



"The hoe plough is the next instrument particularly deserving 

 of attention ; it is one of the most useful that the planter can employ. 

 This plough is used for the purpose of hoeing up weeds and loosening 

 the earth between the growing plants. It is provided with two 

 wheels, one in front of, and one behind the hoes, by means of which 

 the depth of the hoeing is regulated. It may be used with three 

 triangular hoes, each cutting 1 3 inches wide, extending over 3 feet 6 inches 

 of ground, or contracted to a smaller width ; or the two hind hoes may be 

 replaced by two curved knives for cutting the weeds up on the sides of 

 the ridges. It is an implement of very simple construction and 

 in great use in England ; it is also one that will be found of 

 very great advantage on sugar estates, in cleaning between the 

 cane rows, and in loosening the soil about the plants. The 

 expanding horse hoe is an implement designed and manufactured 

 expressly for the colonies, and is already beginning to establish 

 for itself a very sure reputation amongst sugar planters. By 

 means of a very simple contrivance, it can be extended and con- 

 tracted at pleasure ; so that the planter can have it made to 

 expand even to 5 or 6 feet, if he requires it, as he will in all 

 cases where he plants his canes at six feet apart ; whilst at the 

 same time, by having spare tines or shares of peculiar form, he 

 can vary the nature of the work to be performed by it. For 

 FIG. 26. instance, the instrument is suited for rooting up weeds and loosening 

 the soil between the rows of canes ; by taking off the tines and hoes and 

 replacing them with light moulding shares, the instrument is at once converted 

 into a moulding machine, whereby the young canes may receive two or 

 three successive mouldings as lightly and neatly as by hand labour. 



103 



