iS 



CULTIVATION OF THE SUGAR CANE. 



with as little exertion on his part as possible. The 

 size of the cane-hole was defined, by measuring squares of 

 three, three and a-half, or four feet, according to the fancy 

 of the Planter, with a line, and marking off the spaces 

 with small sticks ; but generally, the shape of the old cane- 

 hole was sufficient to direct the labourers in forming the 

 new one, which was accomplished by digging about 

 sixteen or twenty inches square out of the centre of each 

 space, leaving a hard broad border of undisturbed earth, 

 surrounding the hole formed. The earth removed by the 

 operation being arranged on the one side of the hole, 

 formed banks which presented parallel lines of newly turned 

 earth, resting on a hard and unbroken base, and between 

 these lines were the newly formed holes, separated from 

 each other by a bar of undisturbed soil, called the " dis- 

 tance" or " cross-hole bank," which was covered with loose 

 soil, by farther deepening the cane-hole at a subsequent 

 operation, called " cross-holing." This operation entirely 

 removed the surface soil from the hole, so that the hard 

 unbroken subsoil was exposed at the bottom ; the surface 

 of the field, when finished, presenting the appearance of a 

 chess-board. 



Although the earth was but imperfectly broken up by this 

 process, it was a very laborious one, particularly in stiff 

 soils, and where the roots of the recently cut canes inter- 

 laced the earth in all directions. In wet weather, also, the 

 earth adhering to, and clogging the hoes in a very trouble- 

 some manner, they required continual scraping, which con- 



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