IMPLEMENTS USED IN AGRICULTURE. 247 



planters asserting that the use of the plough has proved de- 

 trimental on various occasions, in as much as canes planted in 

 ploughed lands do not ratoon well, and do not last long, whence 

 the necessity of more frequent replanting : it is even contended 

 that the soil becomes impoverished by the operation of the plough. 

 This opinion is much too general not to have some foundation ; 

 but, the fact itself is too contrary to general observation, not to be 

 susceptible of explanation. I have made inquiries on the subject, 

 and have been led to conclude that the following is the true 

 position of the case : Canes planted in land ploughed, but not pro- 

 perly manured, do neither ratoon well nor last long ; but there is 

 no detriment, wherever the land has been judiciously manured. 

 JBy dividing the soil, and rendering it more permeable, the opera- 

 tion of ploughing has for effect, to bring the saline aliment within 

 reach of the roots, and, of course, a larger proportion of it is taken 

 up by the cane in ploughed, than in hoed lands; hence the neces- 

 sity for manuring. I may as well remark here that, whenever a 

 field requires dressing, the best plan evidently is to spread the 

 manure, and plough it in before planting. The use of the plough 

 has been confined to a few estates, not only on account of the above 

 mentioned objections, but in several districts, in consequence of 

 the undulation of the land, and the fertility of the soil which 

 yields good crops almost without labour : "per se dat tellus." 



In certain localities the season for ploughing is limited to a 

 very short period, namely, to the commencement of the dry season, 

 before the ground has become too hard, or at the immediate setting 

 in of the wet season, when it has been softened by the first showers. 

 But, in highly undulating districts, the upper layer runs the risk of 

 exposure, in the latter case, to the washings of the heavy after-rains, 

 and may thus be carried away from the slope to the bottoms or 

 hollows. 



In such lands, however, a superficial ploughing, followed by the 

 grubber, might be of good service without being open to objection. 



Neither fodder nor provisions with rare exceptions are culti- 

 vated on sugar estates. I know that scarcity of labour is alleged 

 as an excuse a very valid one certainly but few admit the 

 soundness of the principle itself; and, by many, it is considered as 

 good policy, that the labourer should purchase all alimentary articles, 

 because he will then be always compelled to work for money- 

 wages. 



