128 



SUGAR-CANE. 



in Brazil socas; those of the second year, resocas; 

 those of the third year, terceiras socas, and so 

 forth. After the roots are left unencumbered by 

 burning the field-trash, the mould is raised 

 round about them ; indeed if this was neglected, 

 many of these roots would remain too much ex- 

 posed to the heat of the sun, and would not 

 continue to vegetate. Some lands will continue 

 to give ratoons for five or even seven years ; but 

 an average may be made at one crop of good 

 ratoons fit for grinding, another of inferior 

 ratoons for planting or for making molasses to 

 be used in the still-house, and a third which 

 affords but a trifling profit, in return for the 

 trouble which the cleanings give.* 



* Labat says, " Les terres neuves, grasses, et fortes four- 

 nissent abondamment de la nourriture aux souches, et les en- 

 iretiennent pendant auinze et vingt ans et plus, sans quon 

 s appercoive d'aucune diminution, ni dans I'abondance, ni dans 

 la bonte", ni dans la grandeur, ni dans la grosseur, des rejet- 

 tons ;" and he even says that the stumps, " conduisent plu- 

 tot leurs rejettons a une parfaite maturity, pourvtis quon ait 

 soin de rechausser les souches," &c. — Nouveau Voyage, &c. 

 torn. iii. p. 368. 



I had previously read the following passage in another 

 work : — " Dans les plantations situe'es au bord du Demerari on 

 fait trente recoltes successives de st'c v e sans transplanter les 

 Cannes, fyc." — Voyage a la Guiane, &c. p. 222. 



As this work is of doubtful reputation, I should not have 

 cited any statement which was made in it unless I was myself 

 aware of its correctness, or unless the fact was mentioned by 

 other writers ; but when Labat speaks of the same thing, 

 there must be some foundation for the statement. 



