1851.] FERTILITY OF THE COUNTRY. 335 
' instead of forest ground to commence upon. It is true 
j that ground once rudely cleared, in the manner of the 
I country, by merely cutting down the wood and burning 
I it as it lies, will, if left to itself, in a single year, be 
:! covered with a dense shrubby vegetation ; but if the 
|| ground is cultivated and roughly weeded, the trunks and 
I stumps will have so rotted in two or three years, as to 
render their complete removal an easy matter, and then 
j a fine crop of grass succeeds ; and, with cattle upon it, 
i no more care is required, as no shrubby vegetation again 
|! appears. Then, whatever fruit-trees are planted will 
! reach a large size in five or six years, and many of them 
j give fruit in two or three. CofiPee and cacao both pro- 
duce abundantly with the minimum of attention ; orange 
and other fruit-trees are never done anything to, but, 
j if pruned, would no doubt yield fruit of a superior qua- 
lity, in greater quantity. Pine-apples, melons, and water- 
melons are planted, and when ripe the fruit is gathered, 
i there being no intermediate process whatever. Indian 
! corn and rice are treated nearly in the same manner. 
Ij Onions, beans, and many other vegetables, thrive lux- 
I uriantly. The ground is never turned up, and ma- 
ll nure never applied ; if both were done, it is probable 
i! that the labour would be richly repaid. Cattle, sheep, 
il goats, and pigs may be had to any extent; nobody 
j ever gives them anything to eat, and they always 
I do well. Poultry of all kinds thrive. Molasses may 
I be easily made in any quantity, for cane put into the 
: ground grows, and gives no trouble ; and I do not see 
i why the domestic process used in the United States for 
making maple- sugar should not be applied here. Now, 
