the Sugar Ants . ^57 
fuffered to grow up again, without replanting; and this gene- 
rally for three or four years, but fometimes for ten, fifteen, or 
twenty. In this mode of culture the {tools become larger 
every year, fo as to grow out of the ground to a confiderable 
height, and by that means afford more and more Oielter to the 
ants nefts ; therefore, for two or three fucceffive crops, the 
canes fhould be replanted yearly, fo as not only to afford as 
little cover as poffibie for the ants nefts, but continually to 
difturb fuch ants as may have efcaped, in the bufinefs of pro- 
pagating their fpecies. 
That confiderable expence and labour will attend putting 
this method into execution, there is no doubt. An expenfive 
cure, however, is better than none ; but from the general 
principles of agriculture, I am of opinion, that the planter 
will be amply repaid for his trouble, by the goodnefs of his 
crops, in confequence of the fuperior tilth the land will receive 
in the propoied method. Of this we have a proof in the 
ifland of St. Kitt’s, where they conftantly replant their canes 
yearly: and it is very well known, that an acremf cane land 
there gives a greater return than the fame quantity in any other 
ifland. In St Kitt’s, five hogfheads per acre is common yield- 
ing in good land. In Grenada, from two to three hogfheads 
from plant canes, and half that quantity from rattoons. Thus^ 
although the St. Kitt’s planter cuts only one half of his cane land 
yearly, in a given number of years he makes a greater revenue 
than the Grenada planter on the p refen t mode of rattooning ? 
when four-fifths of the cane land is yearly cut 
Some may be of opinion, that it would be more advan- 
tageous to change the produce than to purfue the propofed 
method ; on which I (hall only obierve, that it appears to 
me, that one half of the ufual crop of fugar, thus produced, 
will 
