Page:The History of the Island of Dominica.djvu/90

 of the old ilands, from having been a coniderable number of years under cultivation, are o much worn out, as to require great attention to make them bear the culture of the ugar-cane. And the Planters there are obliged to let the land lie a year or two fallow occaionally, or only plant uch vegetables as yams and potatoes, the roots of which open and enrich the oil; beide, it mut be well dunged previous to planting.

Again, no more than one-half in ome plantations, in others only one-third part of the land is yearly planted with canes; the other part being prepared for growing s, turned into pature for cattle, or given to the negroes for gardens, in order to improve and render it fit for the canes. The rattoons, it is neceary to acquaint the readers, who may probably not know the ugar-cane, are econd canes, which pring from the roots of plant canes, after they have been cut down and made