carefully removed. In this way it is said the same roots have been made to send up canes during twenty 
years. In some few cases, the planters adopt a different course, and never wholly renew any individual 
field of canes, but content themselves with supplying new cuttings in such particular spots as from time to 
time appear to be thin. 
The best season for planting is between the months of August and November, the canes being thus 
less liable to be injured by the heavy rains and high winds with which the West India islands are so fre- 
quently visited. 
All the precautions, however, which can possibly be taken by the most experienced planter, will not 
always secure a crop. The sugar-cane is subject to a disease called a blast, for which no remedy has hither- 
to been found : it consists of millions of little insects, whose proper food is the juice of the cane, in search 
of which they wound the tender blades, and consequently destroy the vessels. The growth of the plant is 
thus checked until it withers or dies in proportion to the degree of the ravage. 
These insects are not the only enemies which the planters have to contend with. The canes are likewise 
much damaged by monkies and rats, which however are more easily destroyed. The former come down 
from their retreats in silent parties, during the night, and having posted sentinels to give the alarm if any 
thing approaches, they destroy incredible quantities of the cane by their gambols, as well as by their greedi- 
ness. It is in vain to lay traps for these creatures, however baited, and the only way to protect the planta- 
tions is to set a numerous watch, well armed with fowling-pieces, and provided with dogs. The negroes on 
the different plantations, who think their flesh very good eating, are always ready to perform this part of 
their service. 
In the lowland plantations, the rats also do a vast deal of mischief. They are said to have been intro- 
duced from Europe by the shipping, and have since multiplied prodigiously, breeding in the ground under 
loose stones and bushes. These, also are considered by the field negroes as choice food, and are even said 
to be sold publicly in the markets of Jamaica. 
The canes are cut in the British West India Islands, towards the end of February, or in March and 
April, as they are then as ripe as the nature of the soil will allow them to be ; at this season, the nutritive 
quality of the sugar at once becomes apparent amongst the working negroes and the different animals em- 
ployed upon the plantations ; such indeed is the pleasure they derive from it, that the time of crop in the 
sugar islands, is the season of gladness and festivity to man and beast; “so palatable, salutary, and nourish- 
ing,” says Mr. Edwards, “ is the juice of the cane, that every individual of the animal creation derives health 
and vigour from its use, in a few weeks after the mill is set in action. The labouring horses, oxen and 
mules, though almost constantly at work during this season, yet, being indulged with plenty of the green 
tops of this noble vegetable, and some of the scummings from the boiling house, improve more than at any 
other period of the year.” 
The canes being gathered, are carried to the mill, where the juice is squeezed out by pressing them be- 
tween huge iron rollers ; it is then boiled with lime water, which makes a thick scum rise to the top ; the 
clear liquor is allowed to run off below, and after repeated boilings, which thicken it very much, it is suf- 
ferred to crystallize into the appearance of our brown sugar, by standing in a vessel, the bottom of which is 
pierced with several holes in order that the syrup may drain off ; what remains from this process is called 
molasses, from which rum is obtained by distillation. 
To form loaf sugar, which is only the same, cleared of its impurities ; the brown sugar is dissolved in 
water, and being mixed with whites of eggs or bullocks’ blood, is again put into the boiler ; the liquor thus 
throws up a thick scum to the surface, and the clear substance, rendered thick by boiling, is poured into 
moulds of the same shape as a sugar-loaf. An additional process however is required to whiten it ; for this 
effect, the mould is turned point downwards, and its broad end covered with clay, through which water is 
made to pass ; the water slowly trickling through the sugar, unites with and carries off the matter which 
discolours it, leaving the whole perfectly white. 
Sugar candy is made by boiling the liquor, which has been thickened by repeated boiling, to cool slowly. 
Barley Sugar, is sugar melted by heat, and afterwards cooled in moulds of a spiral form. 
Medical Uses. — Dr. A. T. Thomson observes that “ raw sugar and molasses are laxative; and re- 
fined sugar externally applied is escharotic. All the kinds are extremely nutrient, and more generally used 
as articles of diet than for medicinal purposes ; except it be to cover the taste of nauseous drugs. Sugar, 
however, is said to be a preventive of worms, and to prove useful in scurvy ; but it is hurtful to those of 
bilious, hypochondriacal, and dyspeptic habits. Milk boiled with fine sugar will keep good for a considerable 
time.” — (Dispensatory, 9th edit. p. 638.) 
Sugar is used in pharmacy to make syrups, confections, and lozenges. It is remarkable that while the 
London Pharmacopoeia has only thirteen syrups, and those of no great importance, the Parisian Codex con- 
tains nearly a hundred, among which are many active remedies. 
