November 



t88 3.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



and destroy the plants : this is not my experience, 

 except on a very small scale, but, where it is un- 

 fortunately so, planting must be done at stake, or plants 

 raised in beds, the seed being sown 4 inches apart each 

 way and removed by Scoweu's transplanter and DaWdson's 

 envelopes. This work should be very carefully done, the 

 plants not allowed to remain over 3 months in the nui-s- 

 eries, else the taproots will grow too long, and, in with- 

 drawing the transplanter, the jjlant, instead of coming out 

 with the soil, will be drawn through it, and all its roots 

 disturbed : such a plant will staud a poor chance in any 

 weather. The transplanter should be frequently dipped 

 in a bucket of water, as it makes the work easier, and the 

 envelopes should be wetted and drawn through ashes ; if 

 tliis is not done the earth adheres to the envelope and tlie 

 labor of transplanting in many instances is lost. The 

 shade over plants, whether in baskets or in beds, should 

 after two months be gradually removed to harden the 

 plants. At three months from sowing the seed, the plants 

 are ready for planting out in the cleiiriug. Baskets for 

 raising plants can be got at Kalutara, delivered at the 

 railway st-ition, for from R-t to B4'.30 per 1,000, and an- 

 ther rupee should land them on the estate. 



Lining. — All distances from 9 by 9 to 13 by 13 feet have 

 been tried, and I beUeve that most are now agi'eed that 

 1:2 by 12 is the best; this is, of course, for cm" ordinary 

 red variety : the pale green, white, and purple kinds would 

 want 10 by 16 at least. 



HuiuKj. — Some prefer wide and deep holes — wider and 

 ileeper than I have estimated for, — others prefer naiTow aud 

 deep. The large holes are more expensive aud possibly for the 

 first two years the plants thrive better ; with large holes 

 staking is a necessity, whereas with narrow ones it may 

 not be needed. It is well-known that for two years cocoa 

 plants make hardly auy lateral roots, sending down only 

 a long tap ; during lieavy rains, the soil in a wide Iiole 

 gets very sappy, and the plant liaving no liold is blown 

 over by the lea.st puff of wind. On the other hand, 

 in the narrow hole, tlie few laterals the plant does make 

 have holding ground at once, and they are thus stayed. 



P/aiitiiii/. — This work should be done in the rains, and 

 the earlier in the monsoon the better. One c:iolie will 

 carry out and plant from 100 to 1.50 plants either in 

 baskets or transplanter envelopes, according to the di- 

 stance from the nursery and steepness of laml. On hill- 

 sides, the baskets shoulil be buried 2 inches below the 

 lower lip of the hole, so that, in the event of any soil 

 being washed away, the roots of the plants will not be 

 exposed ; the earth should be well trampled and the liole 

 filleil flnsli with the em-face, to prevent water lodging 

 and rotting the plant. 



Shinfint/ should be done the same day as the planting, 

 or the following morning, and tree-branches the leaves 

 of which will stick on for 3 or 4 mouths should only be 

 used ; the best for this purpose are "Mora" and " Kobella." 

 The cost of shading will depend greatly on the facility 

 there is for procuring the proper shade stuffs, and, unless 

 abundant near at hand, enough trees should be left when 

 felling to give branches for shading, and cut down after- 

 wards. In some parts of the lowcountry, the leaves of the 

 " Madu" palm are used ; they are like fronds of the tree- 

 fern, and answer admirably. I do not think it is necess- 

 ary to cover the plant up entirely as is usually done; 

 in my opinion, it is injurious, shuts out sun and light, and 

 keeps hot air confined; and if the shade is attacked by 

 white ants the plant is bound to go, it cannot escape. 

 The plan I prefer is as follows : — Chop your shade stuff 

 into about 20-inch lengths, stick it upright at about 

 9 inches from the plant, no that no lea ves of thp. plant tonrh it ; 

 run them along north and south for about 1.5 inches thus : — 

 K This will protect the plant from both 



iV S moruing and evening sun, which is really 



O all that is needed, and will also prevent 



TV S the too rapid drying up of the soil; 



JV should white ants attack it, the plant es- 



cape s. 



Suppli/iiir/.—The first supplying should be done in the 

 early north-east raius, and twice more in the following 

 year, by which time nothing further should be needed. 



Weeding. — This is a very important work, and it is very 



desirable that the clearing should be kept clean from the 



commencement. If the growth of weeds is great, weed once 



in three weeks till they are got under. It is quite possible 



48 



that after 3 year or more the work can be done for 75c per 

 'acre, but do not resort to this till you are quite certain the 

 rupee is excessive. I need hardly say, permit no scraper or 

 mamoty weeding! 



Roadini/ tmd Dt-aining. — These works should, if possible 

 be done b^-fore a lining peg is put in or a hole cut — work 

 is facilitated and after damage prevented, as well as a good 

 deil of vexation and bad temper. The gradients of loth 

 roads and drains in the lowcountry should never be steeper 

 than I in 15, ami for roads intended to be afterwards con- 

 verted into cart-roads 1 in 25, and less if practicable. Koads 

 should be cut 4 feet in the solid, with a foot deep and 

 wide drain at the back of it: drains should be 18x18 

 inches. The cost of these works will depend much on 

 the nature and lie of the land : if at all steejj, what has been 

 estimated will be spent ; if flat, a large saving may be ex- 

 pected. 



2'ools.—As a large force of labour will have to be era- 

 ployed to get through the work in proper time : the estimate 

 for these will not be too much. See that you buy nothini' 

 but good articles I 



Biiildinys : Lints. — 20 rooms, roof and walls of cadjajLs or 

 talipots, can be erected at a cost of RIO a room, site included 

 — which will be watertight aud comfortable aud last for 

 all the time they are wanted; they can be run up in a 

 few days — a great consideration, aud there is no risk of 

 the coolies catching illuess from wet mud-walls and damp 

 floors. A line of this sort should accommodate lOU laborers. 

 A good deep drain should be cut all round the lint: to 

 keep the floors dry. A permanent set of rooms can bo 

 built at leisure, to serve for tho.se coolies who will re- 

 main after the planting is finishe<l. It may seem that the 

 accomodation provided is insufficient for the large force 

 that would have to be employed; but if it be borne in mind, 

 that, in the lowcountry, much of the work would be done 

 by .Sinhalese, on contract or day-work, and who would live 

 in the neighbouring villages, it will, I think, be found 

 ample. 



PrfOhiny and Sncl-eriny. — In the fii-st year, all doubles 

 must be cut awiiy, le;tving only one stem. At two years 

 the plant divides, usually into three branches or forks, 

 and then begins to m:i,ke a head. All cross wood within the 

 centre, and all shoots on the main branches, within one 

 fojt of the stem, should be cut out c'em; this ten's to 

 strengthen the main branches, and prevents crowding 

 when the trees grow older. Twice a ye:ir, a month be- 

 fore blossoming seasons, say in May aud Dec mber, all 

 cross and useless wood should be cut out, so as to let in 

 side liykt : the crown above should not be touched, as I am 

 inclined to think strong sun, direct uj o i the young b!os>om, 

 is injurious. .Some planters prune away all drooping 

 branches ; this no doubt improves the appearance of the 

 trees, and. where grown under sufficient shade, I quite ap- 

 prove of the practice. In theoiien, however, they should 

 not be touched, as they serve to protect the trunk from 

 the sun, ami this encourage the setting of blos.som along 

 it. All suckers should be cut away once a month, and on 

 no account should thoy be pulled off. 



Gathering ami Curincf. — ^The pods when ripe assume a 

 slightly yellowish hue. They should be cut off with a knife 

 close to the pod, leaving the stalk by which it was attached 

 adhering to the tree. If cut off close to the branch, the eyes, 

 on which the future blossoms depend, would be destroyed. 

 The pods are heaped on the nearest road, and, as the husk 

 is very brittle, a slight blow with a light wooden mallet 

 splits it, when theseeds are extracteil and put into bis'^ets 

 aud carried to the store to be cured. This is done by 

 laying the seeds in a heap, ou a platform of rcep'rs 

 and coir matting, and covering it with bags or a tar- 

 panUn. The heap is we'l turned every two days to en- 

 sure equal fermentation, and, on the eighth or ninth djiy, 

 according to fermentation, it is washed iu several waters, 

 till quite cleau and free from all mucilage. If the weather 

 is fine, it is then spread on mats to dry ; if not it is at 

 once put into the clerihew ; three days' sun, and less I 

 believe in the drying-house, will dry it thoroughly, and 

 it is then fit to dispatch. Should the moisture not be 

 dried off the beaus the day they are washed, they will, 

 during the night, contract mould, which depreciates them 

 in value. 



Ferinantnt Buildinrii. — A bungalow should bo beguu 

 and finished in the second year : the rooms should be 



