SUGAR-CANE. 



125 



PLANTING THE SUGAlt-CANE. 



The lands in Brazil are never grubbed up*, 

 either for planting the sugar-cane, or for any 

 other agricultural purposes. The inconveniences 



* I insert here a description of a machine for rooting up 

 the stumps of trees, by Cit. Saint Victor, member of the 

 Society of Agriculture for the department of the Seine. 



" It consists of a bar of forged iron, about two feet eight 

 inches long, one inch thick towards the handle, and of two 

 inches towards the breech or platform. The platform, which 

 is circular, is fourteen inches in diameter. This platform 

 serves as the base of the chamber or furnace of the mine, 

 which is three inches in diameter, and three inches eight 

 lines in the length of its bore. The stopper or tampion, 

 which serves as a plug to the mine, is of the same diameter, 

 to enter within after a slight paper or wadding. It is at- 

 tached by a chain to the gun or mortar, which last is eight 

 inches in diameter. About two inches above is added a small 

 touch-hole and pan. The hole is directed in an angle of 

 forty-five degrees, and is primed with powder to communi- 

 cate with the charge with which the chamber is' filled up to 

 the stopper. This engine may be cast even with more faci- 

 lity in brass or bronze, and in this case it must be a little 

 thicker in all its dimensions, in order to afford a resistance 

 equal to that of the forged iron. 



" USE OF THE MACHINE. 



" When the machine is charged with powder, a small ex- 

 cavation is made with a pick-axe, in the centre of the stump. 

 The machine is then placed in it, so that the plug imme- 

 diately touches the wood. Care must be taken to fill all the 

 vacancies, either with stones or pieces of iron or wood, more 

 especially beneath the platform of the machine, in order that 

 the explosion of the powder may have its full effect on the 

 stump, of which, if necessary, the principal roots should 



