CHAPTER III. 



THE METHOD OF CULTIVATION BEST ADAPTED TO THE WEST INDIES, 

 DEDUCED FROM THE RESULTS OE SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE IN VARIOUS 

 ISLANDS — REFUTATION OF THE ARGUMENTS ADVANCED AGAINST IT 

 BY THE ADVOCATES OF THE EXPENSIVE AND INEFFICIENT SYSTEM 

 USUALLY PRACTISED. 



The first and great object to be attended to in the 

 cultivation of the cane is, the reduction of expenditure ; and 

 experience lias shown, that all attempts to bring this about 

 by coalitions to reduce wages have been abortive. It is 

 true, wages have recently fallen to about one-half of the 

 usual standard, but this is occasioned by the recent change 

 of duties in favour of slave-grown sugar, and would not 

 continue were brighter prospects opening, from the fact 

 that the demand for labour would then greatly exceed the 

 supply. The only way, therefore, to reduce expenditure, is 

 to adopt such a system of cultivation as shall require few 

 hands, and by such means the supply will become equal to 

 the demand, and then there can never occur the unnatural 

 position of the servant dictating to his employer. 



Experience has shown, that all the preparation required 



