100 MANURE. [chap. v. 



wheat, the natives call it rapoza; the grain of the low lands, 

 which they call anapil, is finer. In the lighter soils, in a 

 good year, the yield is only from three to five fold : in better 

 land from seven to eight fold is obtained ; and under the most 

 favourable circumstances fourteen or fifteen fold is sometimes 

 produced. Wheat is not unfrequently sown in continual suc- 

 cession, the same seed on the same land. 



When any rotation of green crops with grain is attempted, 

 corn is sown one year, and lupines the next ; then corn 

 again ; or corn for two years, and lupines for one. When 

 lupines are sown for the purpose of manuring the land, the 

 practice is to dig them into the ground when they come into 

 flower, whether it be in wheat lands or vineyards. It would 

 be well if they were oftener employed in this manner; un- 

 fortunately many cultivators are disposed to consider it a loss 

 of their lupines. In some parts of the island, the corn is 

 followed by beans and sweet potatoes (Convolvulus batata). 

 the latter being dug up at the end of six months; when 

 the sweet potato is planted with the vine, it is allowed to 

 remain in the ground a twelvemonth ; the leaf is used as 

 food for cattle, but horses will not eat it. 



MANURE. 



But little manure is used, and no pains taken to preserve 

 it. The landlord has a right to one-half of the straw pro- 

 duced, which he generally sells, and the tenant is not obliged 

 to consume his proportion of the straw on the land he culti- 

 vates. Thus it has a very small part of its own produce 

 restored to it. When corn is sown on land where the wild 

 broom grows, the process of cultivation is this: — the broom is 

 cut, strewn on the side of the hill, and then set on fire ; 

 without further preparation, the corn is sown on the ashes. 



