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the special and difficult work of drainage. When land subject to irrigation is in question, the preparation is the ordinary and current one for all kinds of plantations. The topography of the land will show the system to be adopted, and the canals and irrigating ditches which go around the high portions of the land, by means of locks or other means, give the water to the cane, the planting of which may take up different forms.

"Sometimes it becomes necessary to harmonize the drainage and irrigation of the plantation, which is very easily done by means of furrows, which conduct the water during the irrigation to the other furrows and ditches or banks.

"The vegetation of sweet cane is so exuberant that it is sufficient to throw upon the ground a stalk containing knots having sufficient eyes or buds, for it to grow and produce as good a cane as the richness of the ground will permit. It will be understood that there is an infinite variety of ways of planting the cane, from simply throwing it upon the ground or adopting the latest methods suggested by science.

"We show below the most ordinary and usual manner of planting the sugar cane in Porto Rico.

"Spade planting.-Is adopted when the land is hard to work, or when it is sandy or compact, or when the soil is very deep, and when replantings are made, and on dry, cleared land.

“Holes or pits.-On ground having a deep soil, no irrigation, where the planting is to last several years, and where there are sufficient laborers.

“On banks.—On land having a shallow soil, with much moisture, no drainage; on plantations on a small scale, and where a sufficient number of workmen can be procured.

"I will state here what each kind of planting of sugar cane consists of.

SPADE PLANTING.

"This planting requires a small removal of earth and consists in digging rectangular holes of more or less depth, according to the moisture and thickness of the vegetable coat.

"The holes are dug in straight lines and at equal distances from each other; in each hole two, three, or even four stalks are placed, which are laid at the bottom of the hole, or against one of the sides thereof, in an almost vertical position for the purpose of throwing off the humidity and for protection against the ravages of insects. The stalks are covered with a coat of earth of 1 inch thickness."

PLANTING IN HOLES OR PITS.

"After the ground has been cleared and prepared with the furrows and ditches necessary, the places for the holes are indicated by means of pegs, and the laborers, with spades, each take one line, digging holes

which are generally square and of a depth varying between 15 and 30 centimeters, the greater depth being given to dry land or to land swept by winds. The workmen in digging the holes place the earth dug up at their feet near the edge of the hole, thus making small hills of from 35 to 40 centimeters in height. Sometimes this earth is thrown off to the right of the holes, making a continuous hill in the center of the street remaining between the holes. These hills receive the name of banks, which are very different, however, from those made between furrows and on which planting is done.

"In each hole between two and four cuttings are placed. The latter number in general is too high and is only used when, on account of the bad character of the cane which can be procured and the poverty of the ground, the ravages of insects are feared, or other causes which might destroy the shoots, by which the expense of replanting is avoided.

"The cane stalks placed in the holes may be placed in different positions; they may be laid down on the bottom or on the sides of the holes. In the first case they may be placed parallel to each other and at equal distances, or some parallel and others crossing the same, or leaning against the corners of the hole and allowing them to meet in the center of the bottom, or crossing the corners and leaving an open space in the bottom, etc. In the second case all the stalks are placed against the same side, or half on one side and half on the other, or, finally, one on each side.

"Before placing the stalks in the hole, it is customary to throw some loose earth at the bottom to serve as a bed. After the stalks have been placed in position, they are covered with earth, taken from the hills adjacent thereto, but not more than 1 inch in thickness.

"This is the general character of the planting done in Porto Rico, where the land is prepared in an excellent manner; but as it is never fertilized nor irrigated, the returns are very meager.'

PLANTING ON BANKS.

"This kind of planting is convenient or advisable in the cases we have mentioned in the classification above, and consists in laying off the ground and raising banks over the ordinary level of the ground, taking ground from the furrows which are to separate the same. The planting is made on these banks, according to the rules mentioned, in such manner that each bank does not contain more than two lines of

canes.

"The manner of preparing the land is the same as we have mentioned in speaking of the preparation thereof, and is adopted in many plantations on a small scale, as when the cane is to be sold in towns for chewing or for the purpose of making beverages.

"Afterwards the cane requires the following care:

REPLANTING.

"Not all the stalks having germs which are placed in the ground give good results, sometimes on account of a mistake in the character of the planting adopted, or on account of the bad condition of the shoots, or of lack of humidity in the ground, which paralyzes the progress of the growth, or sometimes. on account of an excessive degree of moisture which causes the roots to rot, and finally by reason of other accidents, such as the ravages of animals, insects, etc., to such an extent that there often remain in the plantation empty spaces without any cane whatsoever.

"Whatever be the number of stalks or shoots lost, replanting is necessary; to what extent may be seen after the planting begins to spring up.

“The stalks used in the replanting are to be of proper condition and have the germs perfectly developed, in order that they may soon germinate and reach the height of the preceding cane. Should there be a great difference between the development of one and the other, when the cutting period arrives, the cane will have a different state of maturity, reducing the degree of sugar.

"For replanting, the spade system is generally used. Sometimes, but not very often, new holes have to be dug and the disposition of the ground changed, which will give rise to new expenses."

WEEDING.

"This operation consists in tearing out of the ground the weeds which grow in the plantation.

"In cane countries spontaneous vegetation is excessive to such an extent that it constitutes the principal enemy of all cultivation, and if it is not frequently and tenaciously combatted, no cultivation of any kind would be possible in these countries.

"Generally one month after the cane has sprung up the first weeding must be done, which is done with a hoe or spade, tearing up by the roots the weeds which exist between the lines or in the streets, and with the hands those growing between the cane. The first weeding is sometimes confined to this only, when there is not a sufficient personnel, or when other work is to be done on the plantation.

"The weeds torn up by their roots are gathered together, and after the earth has been shaken from them they are placed on the hills of earth for the purpose of rotting and fertilizing the ground, or to serve as a bed for the cane when it develops and falls.

"The weeding must be repeated at frequent intervals until the cane, when about five or six months old, has grown to a sufficient height to cross and for its foliage to cast a shadow on the ground, after which hardly any weeds grow and injure the cane.