1S3 



canes wliicli remaiu upon the grouDcl, are set fire to, with the idea 

 that the ratoons, — that is, the sprouts from the old roots of the 

 canes, — -spring forth with more luxuriance, and attain a greater size 

 •by means of this practice. The ratoons of the first year are called 

 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 

 rouDd about them ; indeed, if this was neglected, many of those 

 roots would remain too much exposed 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 fit for planting, or 

 for making molasses to be used in the still-house, and a third which 

 aftords but a trifling profit, in return for the trouble whicli the 

 cleanings give. 



I have above spoken more particularly of high lands. The low 

 and marshy grounds, called in Brazil, varzeas, are, however, those 

 which are the best adapted to the cane: and, indeed, upon the plan- 

 tations that do not possess some portions of this description of 

 soil the crops are very unequal, and sometimes almost entirely 

 fail, according to the greater or less quantity of rain, which may 

 chance to fall in the coarse of the year. The varzeas are usually 

 covered with short and close brushwood, and as these admit, 

 froiQ their rank nature, of frequent cultivation, they soon 

 becjme easy to work. The soil of these, when it is new, 

 receives the name of paid ; it trembles under the pressure of the 

 feet, and easdy admits of a pointed stick being thiaist into it ; and 

 though dry to appearance requii'es draining. The macape marl 

 is often to be met with in all situations ; it is of a greenish white 

 color, and if at all wet, it sticks very much to the hoe ; it becomes 

 soon dry at the surface, but the canes which have been planted 

 upon it seldom fail to revive after rain, even though a want of it 

 should have been much felt. The white marl, harro hranco, is less 

 frequently found ; it is accoimted extremely productive. This clay 

 is used in making bricks and coarse earthenware, and also for clay- 

 ing the sugar. Eed earth is occasionally met with upon sides of 

 hills near to the coast ; but this description of soil belongs 

 properly to the cotton districts. Black mould is common, and 

 likewise a loose brownish soil, in which a less or greater proportion 

 of sand is intermixed. It is, I believe, generally acknowledged 

 that no land can be too rich for the growth of the sugar cane. 

 One disadvantage, however, attends soil that is low and quite new, 

 which is, that the canes rim up to a great height without sufilcient 

 thickness, and are thus often lodged (or blown down) before the 

 season for cutting them arrives. I have seen rice planted upon 

 lands of this kind on the first 3'ear to decrease theii^ rankness, and 

 render them better adapted to the cane on the succeeding season. 

 Some attempts have been made to plant cane upon the lands 

 which reach down to the edge of the mangroves, and in a few 



