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126 



SUGAR-CANE. 



of this custom are perceivable more particularly 

 in high lands ; because all of these that are of 

 any value are naturally covered with thick 

 woods. The cane is planted among the nu- 

 merous stumps of trees, by which means much 

 ground is lost, and as the sprouts from these 

 stumps almost immediately spring forth, (such 

 is the rapidity of vegetation,) the cleanings are 

 rendered very labourious. These shoots require 

 to be cut down, sometimes even before the cane 

 has forced its way to the surface of the ground. 

 The labour likewise is great every time a 

 piece of land is to be put under cultivation, 

 for the wood must be cut down afresh ; and 

 although it cannot have reached the same size 

 which the original timber had attained, still, as 

 several years are allowed to pass between each 

 period at which the ground is planted, the trees 

 are generally of considerable thickness.* The 



first be cut if any appear on the surface of the ground near 

 the stump that is to be eradicated. 



" When the machine is firmly fixed in its place, the prim- 

 ing is put into the pan, a slow match applied, the length of 

 which is sufficient to allow time to retire to a proper distance 

 from the explosion." — Journal of Natural Philosophy, &c. 

 by W„ Nicholson, vol. iv. p. 243. to 245. 



In Pernambuco, the only means of rooting up the stumps 

 which is known is that of digging deep trenches round about 

 them. 



* Labat says, that in clearing lands, it is not necessary to 

 take up the stumps of the trees, unless they arc those des 



