APPENDIX. 249

inssome few cases to great advantage; but it is not every- soil or situation that will admit the use of the plough,.

some lands bemg much too stoney and others too steep.

AndI am sorry I have occasion to remark, that a practice commonly prevails in Jamaica, on properties where this

auxiliary is used, which would exhaust the finest land in the

world. tis that of ploughing, then cross ploughing, round.

ridging, and harrowing the same lands from year to year, or at least every other year, without affording manure. Accordin gly it is found, that this method is utterly destrudfive of the ra- toon, or second growth, and altogether ruznous. It is in= deed astonishing, that any planter of common reading or observation, should be passive under so pernictous.a system,”

PAGE 216s.

“‘ Hitherto I have said nothing of a very important

branch in the sugar-cane planting: I mean the method.

of manuring the lands. The zecessity of giving even the best soi! occasional assistance, is universally admitted; and the usual way of doing it in the West Indies, is now to be.

described.

“<The manure generally used, is a compost, formed, “First, Of the coal and vegetable ashes drawn from

the fires of. the boiling-house and still-house.

Ti«Secondly,

t