THE HISTORY, 
y 
CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL, 
OF THE 
BRITISH COLONIES 
IN THE 
WEST INDIES, 
BOOK V. 
AGRICUL TUBE. 
CHAPTER I. 
Sugar Cane.—Known to the ancients.—Conjectures con* 
earning its introduction into Europe.—Conveyed from 
Sicily to the Azores, Sc. in the 1 5 th century, and 
from thence to the West Indies.—Evidence to prove 
that Columbus himself carried it from the Canary 
islands to Hispaniola.—Summary of P. La bat's rea¬ 
soning to demonstrate that it was found growing spon¬ 
taneously in the West Indies.—Both accounts recon¬ 
ciled.—Botanical name and description.—Soils best 
adapted for its cultivation, and their varieties , descri¬ 
bed.—Use and advantage of the plough.—Usual me¬ 
thod of holding and planting.—Season proper for plant¬ 
ing*—Blast. — Manures.—Improvements suggested. 
I N treating of the agriculture of the West In¬ 
dian islands, the first object that naturally ex¬ 
cites attention is the cane which produces their 
Vol. III. 
B 
