248 TRINIDAD. 



The above observations were applicable, in part at least, to cacao 

 estates, at one time and that not of a far-back date. These planta- 

 tions were negligently weeded with the cutlass, twice a year, merely 

 to facilitate the gathering of the crop ; but the trees being neither 

 pruned nor cleared of parasites, mosses, or lichens, yielded but a 

 few coarse and inferior pods. More care, however, begins to be 

 paid to the health of the plants, and several proprietors add to this 

 culture that of " ground provisions." This latter, a collateral and 

 most essential branch of our agricultural economy, is also receiving 

 a greater share of well-merited attention ; and in many localities 

 there is abundant produce of plantains, corn, rice, and edible 

 roots. I have often thought that the horse-hoe might be em- 

 ployed in the cacao walks with great advantage. Generally 

 speaking, the weeds to be found on cacao plantations are soft, 

 and not very deep-rooted ; whilst the mould being deep, there 

 would be very little obstruction to the working of that imple- 

 ment. The work effected by the horse-hoe would certainly be 

 better, and also cheaper, I expect, than that performed with the 

 cutlass ; for, with the latter, the grass and weeds are only cut at 

 from one to two inches above the ground the surface not being 

 even scratched ; whereas, with the former, there would be a 

 thorough deep weeding. But it evidently could not be employed 

 in old-established cacao estates where the roots of the u bois-im- 

 mortel," and those of the cacao trees themselves, form an inextri- 

 cable net-work of impediment to a surface action. Such practice 

 should be resorted to primarily, on young plantations, and then 

 might be continued as they advanced in growth ; this I throw out 

 as a suggestion to any enterprising cacao planter. The common 

 hand-hoe, however, ought to be used immediately around the base of 

 each plant, which is also, as far as I am informed, the practice on 

 the Spanish main, where the culture of the cacao is better under- 

 stood than in any other country. 



The time has arrived which, in my opinion, imperatively 

 demands a relief to landed property from some of its burdens, 

 an encouragement to all branches of agriculture, and, as far as 

 possible, the formation of an industrious peasantry : this can be 

 done within certain limits, by the revision of some of our actual 

 laws, and by the introduction of new measures specially adapted 

 to the present crisis of affairs. 



If much remains to be achieved in those sections only of the 



