143 
HISTORY OF THE [book iii. 
• 
production of sugar than any other in the West In¬ 
dies, it is neither within my province nor ability to 
explain. The circumstance, however, is unques¬ 
tionable. Canes, planted in particular spots, have 
been known to yield 8,000 lbs. of Muscovado su¬ 
gar from a single acre. One gentleman, in a fa¬ 
vourable season, made 6,400 lbs. or four hogsheads 
of sixteen cwt. each per acre, on an average return 
of his whole crop. It is not however pretended, 
that the greatest part, or even a very large propor¬ 
tion of the cane land, throughout the island, is 
equally productive. The general average produce 
for a series of years is .16,000 hogsheads of sixteen 
cwt. which, as one half only of the whole cane 
land, or 8,500 acres, is annually cut, (the remainder 
being in young canes), gives nearly two hogsheads 
of sixteen cwt. per acre for the whole of the land 
in ripe canes; but even this is a prodigious return, 
not equalled, I imagine, by any other sugar country 
in any part of the globe. In Jamaica, though some 
of the choicest lands may yield, in favourable years, 
two hogsheads of sixteen cwt. per acre; the cane- 
land which is cut annually, taken altogether, does 
not yield above a fourth part as much. 
I am informed, however, that the planters of St. 
Christopher’s are at a great expense for manure; 
that they never cut ratoon canes;* and although 
there is no want in the country of springs and rivu- 
* Ratoon canes are shoots from old roots, as will be fully explained 
hereafter. 
