BCGAH. 



is freest from colouring 1 matter. The average height 

 of the cane, under good cultivation, is here about 7 leet, 

 reckoning -from the stole to the upper joint ; ten, isj, 

 however, not uncommon, or even 12 feel, in virgin sod. 



Superior as the Chinese must be allowed to be to 

 the various classes of Straits' native cultivators, in ttie. 

 application of hereditary laet and unceasing industry 

 to whatever they undertake, tliey yet fall far short of 

 the point to which — did not habit and prejudice in- • 

 terfere — European science and skill might conduct 

 them. 



Their mode of manufacturing raw sugar, superior 

 as it is to the native method employed in Hindustan, 

 is yet very imperfect and would, by a West India 

 plainer, be thought rude, slovenly and inefficient. 

 The ground having been first well cleaned and 

 trenched, the cane- plants are set out in rows which 

 are six feet apart ; the plants are at intervals of _ \ 

 feet, or *2 feet 7 inches ; the trenches or hollows be- 

 twixt the rows are from 1 to 2 feet deep, The most 

 approved months tor planting are April and May ; 

 but canes of all a«;es ma\ be seen ni the plantations, 

 for the Chinese cannot afford to be regular, iiod u.rc 

 all the canes ripe at once, they would not have a suf- 

 ficiency of mills to clear them oft". 



On the quality of the soil and the care bestowed on 

 its culture, depends the period of maturity of (he 

 cane. It is generally, however, ripe at the end of the 

 fourteenth month, in favorable sites. In Other situa. 

 tious, its maturity is delayed to the (t&te&lth or even 

 to the eighteenth month. There are, on an ai - » > . 

 about 3.400 bunches in one orloutf, each hwuh hav, 

 ifcg o tn# or 10 canes. The ground is cleaned 



(our several times, betwixt plant in,!; and cuninu;, mid 

 the leaves are stripped off, to the proper extent, rive 

 times. To each bunch a catty of putrid fish is a I In I 



