, 1881-01-22

drought than the heavier soils of
Antigua, though the average rainfall is
greater. This is especially the case in
those districts where the subsoil is of the
gravel | have described. Bryan Edwards
seems to have been much struck by the
fertility of the soil of this island. He says
by what process of nature the soil
which | have mentioned becomes more
especially suited to the production of
sugar than any other 10 the West Indies it
IS neither within my province nor ability
TO explain. The circumstance is, how
ever, unquestionable." The friable nature
OF the soil, however, makes the manuring
OF the land in lSt. Kit s a large item OF
the annual expenditure, because, in the
first place, the plant more easily reaches
and appropriates the manure, and also
because it is more easily evaporated by the
rays OF the sun and washed through the
soil by the heavy rains which sometimes
occur. This fact appears to have been
as we'll known a hundred years ago as it
ia now, for Bryan Edwards, adds =" | am
informed, however, that the planters of
St. Christopher are at great expense for
manures." 10 the days when he wrote
artificial mauures were unknown in the
West Indies: but a great deal of labour
was expended in collecting bush from the
mountains, and other substances, to make
compost heaps for manuring the land;
now, however, 10 addition to this means of
enrIching the soil, large quantities Of
expensive manures are imported. SO as to
enable the planters to get the greatest
Ao.,,4 - rrr a. al thar ootnEa1
There Is also Q mode OF enriching he land
which may be said TO be a speciality of
St. Kites planters-Damely what is called
there {" green DRESSING" which means that
so soon as the early fields of the crop are
cut off (aud they are usually the rattoon
fields, or the poorest of the plant cane),
the land is planted with pigeon peas OF
Bengal beans. These grow up very
rapidly, and in about four months cover
the land thickly md heavily with o mass
of foliage, which is cut down and plougned
in, and RAPIDLY decays. This exceedingly
cheap method of adding fertility to the
soil enables the planter to restore the
manure which l have said passes SO rapidly
through the soil.
The cultivation Of st. kits is admitted
to be of the very best kind indeed, to use
the words Of a noble lord who visited
mis- est ties in that island q few years ago,
and who is q practical farmer himself in
this country" it is like the best market gar
den in England" This no doubt, is due to a
certain extent to the nature of the soil,
which is easily titled, but very much is
also due to the industry and skill of the
Planters, who are o very respectable class
of men /; and something is still due to the
labourers, who are intelligent and obedi-
ent. Steam-ploughs are not required, and
are therefore rot used in st. Kits, and
the laad is chiefly ploughed by oxen and
by the hoe and the horse hoes, or weed,
lug machines, as they are called, are
employed for wedding and keeping the
soil 10 a good state of filth. A very good
system has been for some years adopted
for keepi pg the fields that are in prepare
ton, or under young canes, free OF weeds.
1t is called farming, and means that as soon
as a field is ploughed and banked, it is
given out, usually to some woman with
one or two children, to be kept clean for
a given time at a fixed rate per acre, pay
able weekly, which she is entitled to
receive so long as it is in good con dition.
This is a good system, inasmuch as it
provides easy employment for a class OF
l~abourers mothers Of families perhaps)
who could not do more laborlous work;
- - - Il Atna 20 houn oil ~