, 1888-10-06

days we have had, and have been busy i'll
taking advantage of them for applying
homemade manure,-eSpecially in getting
OutlfrOm the yards the manure which was
made during the crop season. Not only
as to the getting out OF manure, but i'll
every respect, the preparation for the
planting of the crop of 1890, is i'll a very
backward state. This is owing principal
ly to the latenesS of the reaping OF the
crop which has just been harvested. But,
in addition, owing to the constant rains
of late, the estates hands have had to be
employed, more than on the average, i'll
cleaning the fields of grass and weeds.
OF course, the quick growth of grass and
weeds leads to increased expense in get
ting rid of them. But this is not an un-
mixed evil, inasmuch as that favorable
condition of the weather which promotes
the growth of weeds, also puts VigOur IN
to canes, and yams, and the like. AND IL
is real pleasure to see the healthlleSS
and vigor of all the growing crops. The
fields to be planted with canes are fast
blackening up and presenting a deep con-
traSt to their neighbOrs. And, standing
on any eminehce and looking down OH the
surrounding country, one cannot but view
with satisfaction, luXurIant fields mantled
in green of various hueS, or fields, whose
OlaCklleSS tcllS III TIC careful use Ol (uC
ploUgh and fork, and promises to give a
good account Of themselves when their
turn comes. The planters Of the West
Indies have had hard times of it. They
had to battle, at the time when free labor
was almost an untried problem, with the
s~lave-grown sugar of Cuba. They have
had since to fight with the bOuhty-fed
beet of the European continent, favOured
with the latest appliances and improve
ments of science. Many have been struck
down in the fight, and their lands have
passed into the hands of the stranger.
Others, wparipd and diSheartpned, have
Welded in the struggle. The Sugar
Convention, for the execution of which
Baron De Worms is to be raised to tue
pepragp, has been signed. The action OF
France in the matter still leaves 1t doubt
ful how far this Convention may benefit
the SUgar.cane producing countries. But
Eert or no beet, convention or no cOnven-
ton. the planters of Barbados are yet we'll
20 the front. They have fought many a
hard fight; and that they are ueither beat
ell, nor ready to lay down their arms, the
present appearance of the fields throughout
the length and breadth o. the Island am
ply t~eStitieS. They know not, they can
not tell, nor do they stop to enquire, what
NAV be IN the womb of he future. Theirs
is hot TO reason why" The plough, the
fork, the hoe, are yet doing their work,
under the direction of clear heads and
courageous hearts, whilst the busy actors
look forward with hope to the future. So
be it, and so may it always be. Faint
heartedneSS or despair, is too often the
forerunnrr OF defeat; determined effort,
or hope, the %fOrerunmer of success. And,
as nothing succeeds like success, we may
at least hope that the success which up to
the present has attended the brave efforts
of Our planters in their fields, may lead to
further success in the manufacture of their
canes, and yet farther SUCCESS in the
realization Of good prices in the markets of
the world. So far AZ We have been able to
ascertain, reaping operations have at last
ceased. The only estate ~ We understand,
where any canes are left unreaped, is DRAG
Hall in ST. Georges. But there are many
small patches OF canes belonging to laOOur-
ers which the estates were unable to grind.
The quantity of produce exported to date
has been 81, 457 hhds. of sugar and 1852
puns. mOlasSeS, against $3.50 hhds. of
sugar, and 1866 pnnS of molasSes lastyear.
-AgricWIt& raj Reporter IA Sept.