Sweet are the harmonies of Spring, Sweet is the Summer's evening gale, Pleasant th' autumnal winds that shake The many-colored grove; And pleasant to the sober soul Not undelightful now to roam, The wild heath sparkling on the sight; Not undelightful now to pace The forest's ample round; And see the spangled branches shine, And mark the moss of many a hue That varies the old tree's brown bark, Or o'er the gray stone spreads. The clustered berries claim the eye Clasps its full foliage close. So Virtue, difficult of strength, Clings to Religion's firmer aid, And, by Religion's aid upheld, Endures calamity. Nor void of beauties now the Spring, Whose waters, hid from Summer's sun, Have soothed the thirsty pilgrim's ear With more than melody. The green moss shines with icy glare ; Reflection too may love the hour When Nature, hid in Winter's grave, No more expands the bursting bud, Or bids the flow'ret bloom. For Nature soon in Spring's best charms READ'S "STRANGER ON THE DOOR-SILL;" O ye who daily cross the sill, 1 The sweet-flag, or flag-root. Subject proposed. Invocation and address. What soils the cane grows best in. The gray light earth. Praise of Jamaica, and of Christopher Columbus. The black soil mixed with clay and gravel. Praise of Barbadoes, Nevis, and Mountserrat. Composts may improve other soils. Advantages and disadvantages of a level plantation. Of a mountain estate. Of a midland one. Advantages of proper cultivation. Of fallowing. Of compost. Of leaving the Woura, and penning cattle on the distant cane-pieces. Whether yams improve the soil. Whether dung should be buried in each hole, or scattered over the piece. Canelands may be holed at any time. The ridges should be open to the trade-wind. The beauty of holding regularly by a line. Alternate holing, and the wheel-plough, recommended to trial. When to plant. Wet weather the best. Rain often falls in the West Indies almost without any previous signs. The signs of rainy weather. Of fogs round the high mountains. Planting described. Begin to plant mountain-land in July; the low ground in November, and the subsequent months, till May. The advantage of changing tops in planting. Whether the moon has any influence over the cane-plant. What quantity of mountain and of low cane-land may be annually planted. The last cane-piece should be cut off before the end of July. Of hedges. Of stone enclosures. Myrtle hedges recommended. Whether trees breed the blast. The character of a good planter. Of weeding. Of moulding. Of stripping. THE SUBJECT STATED. SUGAR-CANE CULTURE. WHAT Soil the cane affects; what care demands ; A Muse, that long hath wandered in the groves INVOCATION. HESIOD, VIRGIL, DYER, PHILIPS, SMART, SOMERVILLE. Spirit of inspiration, that didst lead Th' Ascrean poet to the sacred mount, And taught'st him all the precepts of the swain, Descend from heaven, and guide my trembling steps To Fame's eternal dome, where Maro reigns; Where pastoral Dyer, where Pomona's bard, And Smart and Somerville, in varying strains, Their sylvan lore convey: O may I join This choral band, and from their precepts learn To deck my theme, which, though to song unknown, Is most momentous to my country's weal! DEDICATION TO THE GOVERNOR OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS. 1 So shall my numbers win the public ear; And not displease Aurelius; him, to whom Imperial George, the monarch of the main, 1 The 'Leeward Isles' are the northern portion of the Caribbee Islands, that is, those north of latitude 15; the Caribbee Islands south of 15 are called the Windward Isles.' Hath given to wield the sceptre of those isles, Where first the Muse beheld the spiry cane, Supreme of plants, rich subject of my song. BEST SOIL FOR THE CANE. CLEARING. Where'er the clouds relent in frequent rains, And the sun fiercely darts his tropic beam, The cane will joint, ungenial though the soil. But wouldst thou see huge casks, in order due, Rolled numerous on the bay, all fully fraught With strong-grained Muscovado, silvery-gray, Joy of the planter; and if happy Fate Permit a choice; avoid the rocky slope, The clay-cold bottom, and the sandy beach. But let thy biting axe, with ceaseless stroke, The wild red cedar, the tough locust, fell; Nor let his nectar, nor his silken pods, The sweet-smelled cassia or vast ceiba save. GUAVA, GUAIAC, SHADDOC, ACAJOU, SABBACA. Yet spare the guava, yet the guaiac spare ; A wholesome food the ripened guava yields, Boast of the housewife; while the guaiac grows A sovereign antidote, in wood, bark, gum, To cause the lame his useless crutch forego, And dry the sources of corrupted love. Nor let thy bright impatient flames destroy The golden shaddoc, the forbidden fruit, The white acajou, and rich sabbaca : THE LIGHT-GRAY SOIL BEST. For, where these trees their leafy banners raise In this the soul of vegetation wakes, COLUMBUS EULOGIZED AND APOSTROPHIZED. Daughters of heaven, with reverential awe, Pause at that godlike name; for not your flights Of happiest fancy can out-soar his fame. Columbus, boast of science, boast of man! Yet never from thy purposed plan decline? [court, THE DARK SOILS FOR CANE. THAT OF BARBADOES, NEVIS, AND MONTSERRAT. Shall the Muse celebrate the dark deep mould, With clay or gravel mixed? - This soil the cane, With partial fondness, loves; and oft surveys Its progeny with wonder. Such rich veins Are plenteous scattered o'er the Sugar-isles: But chief that land, to which the bearded fig, Prince of the forest, gave Barbadoes name; Chief Nevis, justly for its hot baths famed : And breezy Mountserrat, whose wondrous springs Change, like Medusa's head, whate'er they touch, To stony hardness; boast this fertile glebe. HOW OTHER SOILS MAY BE USEFULLY IMPROVED; IRRIGATION; COMPOSTING. Though such the soils the Antillean cane To draw her humid train, and, prattling, run To thee, if Fate low level land assign, DISADVANTAGES OF MOUNTAIN LAND; CHARACTER OF THEIR Or, if the mountain be thy happier lot, Yet will the arrow, ornament of woe (Such monarchs ofttimes give), their jointing stint ; Thy cattle likewise, as they drag the wain, [shouts, Besides, thy land itself is insecure : For oft the glebe, and all its waving load, THE BEST LOCALITY. But, as in life, the golden mean is best, So happiest he whose green plantation lies Nor from the hill too far, nor from the shore. IMPORTANCE OF THOROUGH CULTURE. Planter, if thou with wonder wouldst survey Redundant harvests load thy willing soil, Let sun and rain mature thy deep-hoed land, And old fat dung cooperate with these. Be this great truth still present to thy mind; The half well-cultured far exceeds the whole, Which lust of gain, unconscious of its end, Ungrateful vexes with unceasing toil. CULTIVATION COMPARED TO DISCIPLINE. As, not indulged, the richest lands grow poor; And Liamuiga may, in future times, If too much urged, her barrenness bewail : So cultivation, on the shallowest soil, O'erspread with rocky cliffs, will bid the cane, With spiry pomp, all-bountifully rise. Thus Britain's flag, should discipline relent, Spite of the native courage of her sons, Would to the lily strike: ah, very far, Far be that woful day: the lily then Will rule wide ocean with resistless sway; And to old Gallia's haughty shore transport The lessening crops of these delicious isles. COMPOSTS IN CANE-CULTURE. Of composts shall the Muse descend to sing, Nor soil her heavenly plumes? The sacred Muse Naught sordid deems, but what is base; naught fair Unless true Virtue stampt it with her seal. Then, Planter, wouldst thou double thine estate, Enough of composts, Muse, of soils enough: When best to dig, and when inhume the cane, A task how arduous! next demands thy song. It not imports beneath what sign thy hoes The deep trough sink, and ridge alternate raise, If this from washes guard thy gemmy tops, And that arrest the moisture these require. Yet, should the site of thine estate permit, Let the trade-wind thy ridges ventilate; So shall a greener, loftier cane arise, And richest nectar in thy coppers foam. AN ORDERLY SYMMETRY IN HOEING RECOMMENDED. As art transforms the savage face of things, And order captivates the harmonious mind, Let not thy Blacks irregularly hoe But, aided by the line, consult the site And to each squadron and brigade assigns Their ordered station soon the tented field, Brigade and squadron, whiten on the sight, And fill spectators with an awful joy. IMPROVEMENT. — PLOUGHING SUGGESTED. Planter, improvement is the child of time; What your sires knew not, ye their offspring know; But hath your art received Perfection's stamp? Thou canst not say.. Unprejudiced, then learn Of ancient modes to doubt, and new to try: And if Philosophy, with Wisdom, deign Thee to enlighten with their useful lore, Fair Fame and riches will reward thy toil. Then say, ye swains, whom wealth and fame inMight not the plough, that rolls on rapid wheels, Save no small labor to the hoe-armed gang? Might not the culture taught the British hinds, By Ceres' son, unfailing crops secure, Though neither dung nor fallowing lent their aid? WHEN TO PLANT THE BUD-TOPS. [spire, The cultured land recalls the devious muse; Propitious to the planter be the call: For much, my friend, it thee imports to know The meetest season to commit thy tops, With best advantage, to the well-dug mould. The task how difficult, to cull the best From thwarting sentiments; and best adorn What Wisdom chooses, in poetic garb! Yet, Inspiration, come; the theme unsung, Whence never poet cropped one bloomy wreath; Its vast importance to my native land, Whose sweet idea rushes on my mind, And makes me 'mid this paradise repine: Urge me to pluck, from Fancy's soaring wing, A plume to deck Experience' hoary brow. WET WEATHER BEST FOR PLANTING THE CANE. Attend! The son of Time and Truth declares ; Unless the low-hung clouds dropped fatness down, No bunching plants of vivid green will spring, In goodly ranks, to fill the planter's eye. Let then Sagacity, with curious ken, Remark the various signs of future rain. The signs of rain the Mantuan bard hath sung In loftiest numbers; friendly to thy swains, Once fertile Italy but other marks Portend th' approaching shower, in these hot climes. RAINS IN THE WEST INDIES; EFFECTS OF A WETTING ON HEALTH. Short sudden rains, from Ocean's ruffled bed, Driven by some momentary squalls, will oft, With frequent heavy bubbling drops, down-fall, While yet the Sun in cloudless lustre shines, And draw their humid train o'er half the isle. Unhappy he who journeys then from home, No shade to screen him. His untimely fate His wife, his babes, his friends, will soon deplore; Unless hot wines, dry clothes, and friction's aid, His fleeting spirits stay. Yet not even these, Nor all Apollo's arts, will always bribe SIGNS OF RAIN; MOSQUITOES, SAND-FLIES, COCKROACHES, LIZARDS, CRABS, DUCKS, AND DOVES. Yet future rains the careful may foretell : Mosquitoes, sand-flies, seek the sheltered roof, And with fell rage the stranger-guest assail, Nor spare the sportive child; from their retreats Cockroaches crawl displeasingly abroad: These, without pity, let thy slaves destroy; Like Harpies, they defile whate'er they touch, While those the smother of combustion quells. The speckled lizard to its hole retreats, And black crabs travel from the mountain down; Thy ducks their feathers prune; thy doves return, In faithful flocks, and on the neighboring roof Perch frequent; where, with pleased attention, they Behold the deepening congregated clouds, With sadness, blot the azure vault of heaven. THE WEST INDIA SHOWER; TORRENTS; ENLIVENING EFFECTS. Now, while the shower depends, and rattle loud Your doors and windows, haste, ye housewives, place Your spouts and pails; ye negroes, seek the shade, WOODY MOUNTAIN TOPS RESERVOIRS OF MOISTURE; FOGS; But chief let fixed Attention cast his eye |