, 1874-12-26

advances have been made to the cane grower
they arc deducted in whole or in part at each
settlement. Frequently the Acting Directors
found it conducive to the general interest to
advance both manures and specified sums to
help the planters in the cultivation of their
properties. These advances bear interest at
the rate Of six per cent per annum, and are
mostly taken from the Reserve Fund.
The Usines stipulate that the canes shall be-
delivered. ripe and IN good condition, free
from rat damaged canes, or canes with trash
attached to them good sugar cannot be made
nth such canes By the most perfect machjnery).
Directors always refused such. When the
canes are brought tied in bundles three per
cent is deducted from the gross weight for the
cane bands. No distinction is made Tor the
sweetness of the juice, it is found impossible to
keep n correct account of such minute details
with the number of persons who daily supply
canes to the Usine Of course the difference
in yield of crystallizablc sugar is very great,
as may be seen by Dutrone's Table; but in the
course Of a crop matters are so arranged
between the Usine Director aud his caue sup
pliers that all get %fairplay.
saw but one instance of difference Of
opinion the other planters present were APP
pealed to, and a deduction of weight was made.
| certainly thought the Director was right, the
canes brought had evidently been over man
ured. The planter could not deny they were
unripe, but, as he said, they had formed a por-
ton Of a ripe field, had been grown in a hol.
low, and bad to be cut but these are small diff
cultios which must occur, aud mutual interest
prompts an amicable solu ion. In some instau@
ces the canes are brought to the Usiues by
the growers these generally receive a greater
percentage one frequently sees small ho!dors
bringing their canes TO Pointe Simon in canoes.
at times they come from d considerable distance
Down the coast. They are sure Of a market,
even should they have no previous agreement.
When the canes are brought to the Usine in
lighters, the general rule is the steam-tug takes
these to the various stations agreed on, and
at stated hours repass to tow them to the
Usiue meanwhile the owners Of the cane have
mad the lighters loaded at their own expense.
O1ce taken in charge ofby the tug the Usine
is responsible for the canes, and pays losses,
although in one case, Pointe Simon, that Usino
is only responsible for losses after the lighter
may have arrived at its anchorage.
When the canes are brought by tramway, the
Usines send their trucks to stations along the
line, and rs near as possible to tho cane
field being cut here the planters load the trucks
at their own expense, and tho locomotive, cat
tie, or mules, as the case may be. Of the U,ine,
conduct them to the Factory each truck
or Wagon Of canes is at once weighed and re-
mains on the rail till wanted for the mill.
Usino Lareiutv has two hundred Of these wag-
eors, each cap1ble Of containing $500 kiio-
grammes-6l7l lbs. avoirdupois. The gross
weight Of each loaded Wagon is 1000 kilO-
grammcs, 8SI6 lbs. have seen fifteen Of these,
representing a gross weight ofneorly sixty tons,
brought to the Usine Petit Bourg from a con-
siderable distance by two yoke of cattle.
Each Usine has a person whose sole employ
ment is to weigh the canes; these persons re-
ceive very good salaries; OF course if they
choose the owners of the canes can be present,
or appoint a person TO represent them some
times among themselves they subscribe and
pay a person a fixed salary to superinteud on
their part the weighing at other places all
parties appear satisfied with the person appoint
ed by the Director. In either case I never saw
any disagreement.
From what | saw during my stay among
the Usines each one has some particular es-
peciality better arranged than the other, which
might be more or less all combined in a new
Factory.
Pointe Simon supplies its cane carrier by
means off steam-crane; the canes from the
barges are thrown into boxes mounted on trucks
placed in the tramway, each box has an iron
loop or eye at each corner the bottom is made
like a folding door with hinges: each box will
contain ahout 9 500 his. cane the trucks ara