GENERAL OPERATIONS 



21 



For plants, start in January, plough 9 in. deep, throwing 

 a furrow 14 in. wide. This plough will require a team of 

 eight cattle to pull it. Two ploughs will do three acres a 

 day. Harrow, and allow it to lie fallow till first week in 

 March ; then plough and cross-plough 6 in. deep, and 



FIG. 6. A THREE-FURROW Disc PLOUGH USED IN JAMAICA 



harrow. Line 14 ft. square. Dig holes 2 ft. 6 in. every 

 way, and fill in with surface soil. 



Dig suckers, beginning first week in February, one 

 month before they are wanted, and only digging each 

 week what can be planted each week a month later. 

 Plant the second week of March to the end of April. 

 Keep stirred with the plough 3 to 4 in. deep in fine weather, 

 say every eight weeks, but in wet weather simply cut down 

 weeds with cutlass. Select the strongest shoot for the 

 plant, which will fruit in the following February or March. 



Prune off all suckers until June, then leave one sucker 

 just coming out of the ground, which will fruit in the 

 following April. In October leave another on the opposite 

 side of the stem, which will fruit the following spring 

 twelve months. In February leave another, which will 

 fruit in fifteen or sixteen months. 



On such an estate 66 to 70 per cent, of plants and 88 



