88 



A True and ExaB Hiftory 



is, by digging a (niall trench t)f fix irtchcs brbad, and as much deep, 

 in a ftraight line , the Whole length of the land ydu rtiean to plant g 

 laying the earth on one fide the trench as you make it 5 then lay two 

 Canes aldngthe bottom of the trehkjh, one by another, and (b conti- 

 nue them the vvhdle length of the ttellch,to the lands end, arid cover 

 them with the earth you laid by s and At two foot diftance, another 

 of the fame, and B a third and fourth, till ydu have finifii'd all the land 

 you intend to plant at that time : For, you ihult not plant too much 

 at once, but hilve it to grow ripe (ucceflively, that your work may 

 come in ordef ,to keep youftill doings for.ifitOiouldberipeaU toge- 

 ther, you are not able to vVof k it fo^and then for want of cutting,they 

 would rot,and grow to lofs: By planting it thus aldng, tvvd together, 

 I every knot will have a fprout, and fo a particular root, and by the 

 means of that, be the more firmer fixt in the ground, and the better 

 able to endufe the wind arid weather, and by their thick growing 

 together, be the ftrongerto (upport one another. By that time they 

 have been in the ground a morith , you ftall perceive them to appear , 

 like a land of green Wheat mEngland^ that is high enough to hide a 

 Harejand in a month more, two foot high at leaft* But upon the firft 

 months growth, thofe that are careful, and the beft husbands, com- 

 mand their Overleers to (earch, if any weeds have taken root,andde- 

 ftroy them, or if any of the Plants fail, and fupply them^ for where 

 the Plants are Vvanting, weeds Will gtdW 5 for, the ground is too vet^ 

 tuous to be idle. Or, if any Withs grow itifhofq vacant places, they 

 will (pread very far, and do much harm, pulling down all the Canes 

 they can reach to. If this husbandry be not ufed when the Canes are 

 young, it will be too late to find a remedy, for^ when they ^re grown 

 -to a height^ the blades will become rqugh and (harp in the fides, and 

 (b cut the skins of the NegreS^as the blood will follow^ for their bo- 

 dies, leggs, and feet, being uridoathed and bare, cannot enter the 

 Canes without fmart andldfs''dfblood,vvhich they Will not endure. 

 Befides , if the Overfeers-ftay tdoloftg, befdte they repair thefevoid 

 [ places, by new Plants, they will never be fipe together, which is a 

 { very great harm to the whole field , for which there is but one remc- 

 \ dy , and that almoft as ill as the difeafe, which is, by burning the 

 j whole field, by which they Idfe all the time they have grown ; But the 

 I foots continuing fecurefrom the fire, thete arifes a newipring all to- 

 i gether 5 fo that to repair this lofs of time, they have onely this recom- 

 pence, which is, by burning an army dt the main enemies to their pro- 

 fit. Rats, which do infinite harm in thelfland, by gnawing the Canes , 

 which prefently afte^ will rot, and become unlerviceable in the work 

 df Sugar. And that they may dd this juftice the more feverely, they 

 [ begin to make their fire at the out-fides of that land of Canes they 

 . ; mean to burn, and fo drive them' td the middle, where at laft the fire 

 ' comes, and burns them all 5 and this great execution they put often 

 i in pradice, without AlTifes or Seflions^ for,there are not fo great ene- 

 • mies to the Caries, asthefeVermine^as alfo to the Houfcs, where they 

 I lay up their ftores of Corn and other provifions^ and likewife in dwel- 

 \ ling houfe for their viftuals. For, when the great down-falls of rain 

 come, y^Mxdiinnliovenfber and December^ and in the time of the T«r- 



