276 



TROPICAL AGRICULTURE 



CHAP. 



Weeding. weeding with the hoe or cultivator between the rows, care 

 must be taken not to turn up the soil too deeply, for other- 

 wise the lateral roots which bear the tubers will be injured 

 and thus interfere with the yield. 



The crop 

 time. 



Crops. — Planting having been undertaken between Sep- 

 tember and May, the crops may be reaped in from eight to 

 twelve months afterwards, but the roots can be left in the 

 ground for a considerable time without injury. In harvest- 

 ing, the tubers are carefully lifted and separated from the 

 Washing the fibrous roots, and washed so as to remove all adhering 

 earthy particles. They must then be manufactured into the 

 commercial product without delay, for they soon dry or decay 

 after they are dug up. 



tubers. 



Peeling the 

 tubers. 



Grating. 



Grating 

 manioc in 

 Dominica- 



Preparation of Cassava Meal. — The tubers, after they 

 have been washed, are divested of their dark-coloured rind 

 by being peeled with sharp knives. The peeled roots are 

 then reduced to a coarse meal by being pressed against a 

 rapidly revolving wheel covered with a copper or tin grating 

 surface, or they may be rubbed down to meal by means of a 

 flat tin grater nailed on a board. In the latter case, how- 

 ever, the operation is very laborious ; but, nevertheless, a 

 large portion of the cassava meal made in Dominica and 

 elsewhere is prepared in this tedious way : the natives fix 

 the large flat grater against a tub, and, leaning over it 

 with tubers in each hand, they grate quickly and rhythmi- 

 cally to the sound of a drum and they are encouraged to 

 extra exertions by the stimulating influence of inspiriting 

 local songs, and more often than not by large potations 

 l^res^smg j3ut of intoxicating drinks. The pulp is then put into bags 

 and pressed so as to force out the poisonous juice. The 

 Indians of Dominica and South America press the pulp 

 by means of curious baskets called matapies. These baskets 

 are made of plaited strips of thfc long smooth stems of a 

 native plant closely allied to that producing arrowroot. 

 When empty the matapie is long and narrow, but when 



the poison 

 ous juice 



The 



matapie. 



