634 KNOWLEDGE OF THE CHINESE IN CULTIVATING SUGAR CANE. 
agriculturists of the West India Colonies 
are now better acquainted with the advan- 
tages they possess, and use these valuable 
substances, wherein some of the Islands 
abound.* 
In a loamy soil (which consists of sand and 
clay,) lime may be used with advantage. 
Lime acts immediately in producing bene- 
ficial effects, chalk not so soon, but it is more 
permanent in the advantages it affords to the 
soil. In this country about two hundred 
bushels of lime are found sufficient for each 
acre, and from fifteen to twenty of two-horse 
cart loads of chalk per acre. 
These are to remedy the defects of soil. 
Animal and vegetable manures are to renovate 
worn out lands, by supplying new soluble and 
gaseous matter, for the nourishment of the 
plant. This is not a permanent good, and 
requires to be constantly renew'ed ; as it is 
found by universal experience, that vegetable 
and animal substances, used as manure, are 
consumed during the process of vegetation.'!' 
The properly manuring of lands is a most 
important operation in sugar planting ; even 
the best soil requires occasional assistance, 
and there is much yet to be learnt by agricul- 
turists in the management of this most essen- 
tial branch of husbandry. 
The Chinese appear to understand the mat- 
ter better than most other people : every 
animal and vegetable refuse, every thing of 
disgusting appearance and offensive effluvia. 
• Perhaps Bryan Edwards drew their at- 
tention to this matter by asking’, “ Why for 
instance are not the manures of lime and 
sea-sand, which abound in these Islands, and 
have been found so exceedingly beneficial in 
Great Britain, brought into use ? Limestone 
alone, even without burning, (the expense 
of which might, perhaps, be an objection,) has 
l>een found to answer in cold, heavy, and m dst 
lands ; no other trouble being requisite than 
merely to spread it over the ground, and 
break it into small pieces by sledge hammers. 
Of this the quantities are inexhaustible. Marie 
is another manure of vast and general utility 
in Great Britain. It enriches the poorest land, 
opens the stifFest, and sweetens and corrects 
the most rank. Lands have been raised by 
the use of this manure from two shillings per 
acre to a guinea annual rent- Now there is 
no country under the sun. wherein a soft 
unctuous marie more abounds than in Jamai- 
ca.”- jBt/wards’s West Indies. 
In the present day, however the Jamaica 
planter takes advantage of the fortunate cir- 
cumstance of possessing these substances, and 
more or less employs them all. 
fThese can only nourish the plant iiy afford- 
ing solid matters capable of being dissolved 
by water, or gaseous substances capable of l)e- 
ing absorbed by the fluids in the leaves of 
vegetaliles. 
The great object in the application of ma- 
nure should be to make it afford as much solu- 
ble matter aspossitile to the roots of the plant; 
and that in a slow and gradual manner, so that 
it may be entirely consumed in forming its sap 
and organised parts- lire's Dictionary of Che- 
mistry. Art. Manure. 
they carefully collect and use as beneficial 
agents in vegetation, thus converting the 
loathsome and revolting, into the wholesome 
and inviting. 
The sugar planter might advantageously 
follow the example of the Chinese in this 
respect. Great improvidence and waste are 
too often practised, and the land, as a ne- 
cessary consequenee, suflrers. 
The cane trash, which is used as fuel, 
would make excellent manure, and therefore 
it is of importance to be as economical in 
fuel as possible.* 
The lands are at present imperfectly manur- 
ed, and yet very frequently cattle are kept 
for the sole purpose of providing manure. 
Recourse also is obliged to be had to sup- 
plies from England, and much compost is 
sent out from this country to the Colonies. 
The manure which is used, is generally a 
compost made of 
1st. The coal and vegetable ashes drawn 
from the fires of the boiling and still-houses. 
2d. Feculences discharged from the still- 
house. mixed up with rubbish of buildings, 
&c. &c. 
3d. Refuse or field trash, that is, the 
decayed leaves and stems of the canes. 
4th. Dung obtained from the horse and 
mule stables, and from fixed and moveable 
pens. 
5th. Good mould collected from ravines, 
or gulleys, and other waste places. 
The first is supposed to be a manure in 
itself for cold and stiff clays, and it is the 
custom, in some places in which this soil is 
found, to carry the ashes out in autumn, and 
place them, unmixed in large heaps. VVhen 
the land is holed, a quantity of about fifteen 
or twenty pounds is put into each hole, and 
mixed with the mould, at the time the plants 
are put into the ground. But ashes thus 
applied cannot be very beneficial, as they 
neither afford soluble matter for the nourish- 
ment of the plant, nor correct any defects of 
the soil. In very wet lands, ashes may 
prove advantageous, absorbing the superflu- 
ous moisture, but then they should be spread 
outside, not be mixed with the earth. 
The compost is used in the same manner 
as ashes, not being carried to the land till 
just before it is required. The moveable 
pens are, however, the chief dependence of 
the Jamaica planter; in the Windward 
Islands manuring is more carefully applied. 
From all cares on this subject, the colonists 
of Dutch Guiana are at present exempt, as 
their soil can be efficiently manured, as well 
as irrigated, by admitting the rivers to over- 
flow the lands, the deposit w'hich these leave 
being very fertilising. But as the process is 
attended by the production of unhealthy 
miasmata, it would perhaps be to their ad- 
vantage to renew the fertility of their front 
* Cane trash which we reckon the 
richest manure we have, when ]>roj!>erly pre- 
pared. - ^ir John huforey. 
