Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-11-19

Sugar Making in Cuba.
NnINMRER ln. III

Being huSions to Nltlt the Island oi Iuna I
60 learn something VI iis resources "a
sugtr.rroducipg country | this summer
avaNcd myself of an invitation from Mr,
George Crahh, tho administrator Of the
splendid estates IL Scner Don Miguol dc
AMama, and arrived at Santa Rosa ON tho
morning Of the 2sth July.
paripg the day hgh, showers fell, until
about 5 r.N., whom tho clouds dispersed and
the afternoon was lovely. 4 ride over the
magnificent estate was very enjoyable and
the ,1up Taii from the highest point was
one 81 exceeding hoauty. Miles of vast
hclds vt green canes could 10 seen, tho land.
scope being bcauufod by charming mean
dcrjng streams oC clear water aud lofty
palms studded hero and there on the banks
and in the midst 81 the canes.
From day to day my time was pleasantly
employed in riding about the country in.
spccHug The crpps aud machinery on the
most noted estates. | saw none which So
V'Sorahly impressed me as Santa Rosa,
which does credit 60 the administrative
ability of Nv Crabh who certainly sustains
has well.carurd reputation. To bring order
ont uf chaos tthc estate having bc,n con.
fscatcd aud allowed TO 90 wreck and
have all the buildings in the tiuc condition
| found them and snch splendid crop
prospect, requires high order of admins
tranvc ability. Generally the fields are
beautifully undulntiug, almost billy, ron
Gerf diiohing entirely unnecessary. Tho
eaSjs were of varied stages of growth,
from Two 20 over four months old.
Comparing the scene with our fiat aud
partially drained lands almost caused one
TO view it as n sugar planters paradise. At
no time during my stay of ten days did the
thermometer range above 81 : aud at night
! invariably found blanket an agreeable
adjunct. The almost perfect freedom from
mosquitoes rendered the evenings most
enjoyable.
The soil is generally q chocolate colored
sandy loan, here aud there interspcrsed
with soft limestone rock. On some estates
the soil is of red clay, and where the land
is low, il assumes dark character, with y
subsni almost impervious 10 water. Tile
drainage proved failure in such soils.
From the system which has been pursued
on many estates the soil has become some
what exhausted, as with us. and requires
reoupcrauou to render it capable of pro.
dueing maximum crops.
When field of ratoons becomes too old
TO prudoce a remunerntive crop, it is then
allowed to grow mp in grass, and the cattle
grace 1t until required for cane again say
in two or three years. The old fields are
broken up by Fowler's stcam-plow, or, what
is more common, four oxen attached to n
large pow. An acre day is about tn,
average work with oxen. If circumstances
will pc, mt, the soil receives several pillow.
ings aud cross. plowings, the latter being
very essential. and easily performed. a:
there are no bitches TO interfere with tn,
work.
The lands are flushed, and not plowed il
rows. rs the water burrows are not required
for drainage. Some little tine prior tc
planting. the rows are tiuked out at con
siderable depth at tive feet apart. Wher
planting commences the canes are covered
according to the fancy OF the plsnter-some
times with n single plow or hoe, and agar
simply with the tiugers-a mode not mucl
in vogue.
CaueS can be planted at any season TIT
year when there is adequate moisture, Gen
orally, if the canes do not receive rain il
twenty days after planting, the fields requir
TO be re-plan,ed TO insure a stand. June anC
July paintings are avoided. as being mos
risky. September is considered the hes
mouth, as canes planted then give spleudi'
results. The amount of cane used for see,
depends on the fancy of the administrator
yet thin planting is the almost nniversa
order Of the day, as it is claimed tina, cane
do hot ration we'll from original eyes whc
come up, and suckers are preferred. Al
original thick stand is not desired, as tn
results are not good ,hereirom. ! only hat
the opportunity of witnessing cane planting
on one place during my visit. and will tr.
to describe it, being novel and rare.
The land had been fnrrowed rs it is Their
styled, to the depth Of at least fifteen inches
by Fowler's steam apparatus, with tw
large tiokes Give feet apart attached to
frame. Splendid plant canes were cut i
pieces, (abOut 10 inches long, with two o
three eyes, tied in lunches about twelv
inches IN diameter, put on tramway cars
drawn to the dstan, field prepared for plant
ing by oxea, then deposited on the ends {
the rows, as canes are never car;ed on til
fields to be planted. Old women were d,
tailed TO carry the cuts to the men who wer
planting. Each man was provided with
sAiSh ADoIA Two lttA atlA uNil lhilH. Mult
served as guide when placing the pieces
csne 10 n row. When put in the furrow tn
cane was covered by the fingers to the dept
OF an inch or inch and half The site
was then placed at the end Of the la
planted piece, and another planted, as b.
fore, at two and half feet apart, and
on TO the end Of the row. 1t is clai ned tbs
magnificent rhtoons result from this syi
ten, the mother cane being about egl
iuches below The level Of the land when ii
cans receive the las; working, as no ride
Is gN'sn. II was n strange proceeding at
one which must be abandoned when SLAYER
ceases to exist.
The above is one Of the modes Of plan
ing, yet not generally INDUCED in, AZ il
looked upon as too ardaous and expense,
by meu Of progressive views. As ru
canes are cot in lengths Of fifteen to eigh
cen inches and planted little nore tha
one stalk.
The crop, plant aud stubble, is cul,ivai,
on the fai, no ridge being desired, and II
work ia done with the hoe, single pIow AT
ope-horse cn!tiya,or. The canes are works
and held until large euough 10 shade Al