saturating. Without doubt because of this circumstance some 

 planters lay them in a bed of sand, covering them with straw, 

 thus parching them superficially. The hard scab of the seed di- 

 lates and splits, then on transplanting it grows easily. 



This process is dangerous as it is liable to expose the germ of 

 the plant, it is preferable to make a plantation in a nursery and 

 transplant after, as is the custom with coffee trees. 



Planting by cuttings does not offer any real advantage and 

 can only be attempted with any result when the first rains of the 

 year are over. For besides maiming the vigorous shoots of the 

 mother plant, it is difficult for the cuttings to take root, and even 

 after they have taken root, they resist but poorly any variations 

 of the summer on the hills, but in damp districts , which are never 

 really wet, this system is perhaps better, so as to hurry the de- 

 velopment of the plant, and consequently for its industrial profit. 

 In any case it does not do for an extensive cultivation. 



When care is taken to choose the seed, avoiding those which 

 float on the water the plant comes up robustly, looking whilst 

 young, like " Ricinus" [Castor Oil plant] or " Mandioca" [Cassava.] 



During the first three or four weeks it grows from 8 to 12 inches, 

 going ahead from then rapidly, attaining three or four metres in 

 the first year, if the soil is really damp, as upon the sides of the 

 mountains. 



In the interior the development is slower, it is therefore planted 

 in the summer so as to be nourished in the winter. Cattle like 

 the young Manicoba for forage, therefore it should be planted 

 within closed places. 



Some planters think that the Manicoba does not require care, 

 it being sufficient to make a clearance after the first year and on- 

 ward, others think that this idea is quite wrong. 

 Snr. Adriene Delpeche says as follows : — 



In the month of August I moved 20 roots, the first which were 

 sown in a corner for experiment at one month old had attained 

 a height of 15 centimetres. Half were planted in a piece of 

 ground sown with millet, which was not weeded again. The 

 other half were planted in a piece of ground which was always 

 kept clean. 



Result— The former are 30 centimetres [12 inches] high and 

 are very fine. The latter measure upwards of 2 metres [6h feet,] 

 one being 5 centimetres [2 inches] in diameter having already 

 vertical branches. 



The enemies of the plant are the following: — 



Immediately the plant shows the young stalk, ants of every kind, 

 large and small destroy it, becoming most hurtful to every plant 

 which is not in a nursery, where they may be carefully watched 

 and guarded. 



Then there is the sap which attracts the destructive insects to 

 attack the slips of plants transplanted from the nursery, cutting- 

 is an instant innumerable leaves. 



In the third year the cuttings of plants may be thinned as so 



