CULTIVATION OF THE SUGAR CAKE. 



is also manifestly to the advantage of the shipowner and 

 merchant, as well as to the Planter, by giving an additional 

 employment for shipping, and rendering the trade more 

 profitable, by insuring full cargoes both ways. 



There is one advantage, moreover, which the covering 

 of the earth with megass presents, which is of more 

 importance to those Colonies which are liable to have their 

 crops destroyed by severe droughts, than any which I have 

 enumerated, and which must appear clear to all who have 

 considered the subject. The thick covering of megass 

 laid on the spaces between the cane-rows, prevents the 

 great evaporation of moisture from the earth, which 

 takes place in dry seasons. Indeed, the benefit of cov- 

 ering the ground for this purpose is well known to 

 some Planters, who are at the expense of cutting grasses, 

 and carting field trash to cover the surface; and when 

 even so imperfect a covering as this is found useful in 

 averting, in some degree, the evil, it is manifest how 

 great the advantage of such a covering as megass. In fact, 

 there would be a certainty of securing, in any year, how- 

 every dry, a remunerating crop. 



I have long been convinced of the necessity of following 

 out this plan with megass, but have never had an oppor- 

 tunity of doing so except on a small scale, which was, 

 however, quite sufficient to verify its correctness. 



A late writer (Mr. Wray) also advocates the returning 

 of the megass to the soil, and using coal for fuel ; and, I 

 think it the most valuable suggestion in his book. He 



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