AGRICULTURE IN 1829. 35 
The second weeding at 3 or 4 months, requires about 
5 or 6, 
The trashing or pulling off the decayed and quailing 
leaves of the cane at 7 months old is the last work on 
them before they are cut, and requires about 5 negroes 
to the acre. 
The plant cane is ripe in 13 or 14 months from the 
time of being planted; it is then about g feet long in 
average soils. From the top of it a piece is cut off 
about 15 inches long, and in which there is little sugar. 
This is again planted in two rows in the cane hole at 
about a foot apart, and at an angle of about 30 degrees, 
one third of the top being in the ground. The tops 
should be planted so thick that the upper extremity of 
the one shall nearly overhang the buried end of the 
preceding one. In very rich soils and a rainy season 
they may be planted much wider, and if the ground is very 
moist and the showers constant, they may be laid flat on 
the ground, the lower end trodden in with the foot, when 
every joint will throw out a shoot above and a root below, 
Very great care is required in the first weeding of the 
young-canes, as their shoots are not easily distinguished 
from the grass that surrounds them, and without con- 
stant watching the negroes will chop off both together. 
In cutting the cane the negro first strips off all the 
leaves. He then cuts off the top for a plant, and the 
rest of the cane into lengths of about 3 feet, which are 
carried to the mill by punts. An acre of canes, pro- 
ducing two hhds. of sugar, requires to cut and carry to 
the punt * _— able negroes. * men and * punts 
will carry canes to the mill for 4 hhds. 
* Left open in MS. 
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