96 irONDERS OF THE TROPICAL FORESTS. 
The Bugar-cane is also subject to tlie Mast — a disease 
which no foresight can obviate, and for which human 
wisdom has bitherto in vain attempted to find a remedy. 
When this happens, the fine broad green blades become 
sickly, dry, and withered ; soon after they appear stained 
in spots, and if these are carefully examinetl, they will be 
fonnd to contain countless eggs of an insect like a bng, 
which are soon quickened, and cover the plants with 
vennin ; the juice of the canes thus affected becomes soar, 
and no future shoot issues from the joints. The ravages 
of the ants concur with those of the bugs in ruining the 
prospects of many a sugar-iield, and often a long continued 
drought or the fury of the tornatlo will destroy the hopes 
of the planter. 
The land crabs are also very injurious to tlie sugar- 
fields, some of the species being particularly fond of the 
cane, the juice of which the)' suck and chiefly subsist on. 
They are of course narrowly watched, and no opportunity 
of catching them is lost sight of; but such is their 
activity in running, that they are almost always enabled 
to escape. They seldom go far from their burrows in 
day-time; and their watchfulness is such that they regain 
them in a moment, and disiippear as soon as a man or dog 
comes near enough to be seem 
Harvest-time in the sugar-plantations is no less a season 
of gladness than in the corn-fields of England. 80 pala- 
table, wholesome, and nourishing is the fresh juice of the 
cane, that every animal drinking freely of it derives health 
and vigour from its use. llie meagre and sickly among 
the negroes exhibit a surprising alteration in a few weeks 
after the mill is set in action. The labouring oxen, 
horses, and mules, though almost constantly at work 
during this season, yet being indulged with plenty of the 
green tops and some of the scummings from the boiling- 
house, improve more than at any other period of the year. 
Even the pigs and poultry fatten on the refuse, and 
enjoy their share of the banquet, llie wholesome effects 
