22 



season. Lamtoro produces plenty of seed, but it soon loses its 

 capacity for germination. One cannot count upon more than 

 50 per cent, germination after tlie seed lias been kept for four or 

 five months. The seed may be sown in lines as Avell as scattered 

 in the plantation. In Coffee and Hevea plantations it is advis- 

 able to sow the seed at once in broad bands between the trees. 

 The seed will germinate in about a week's time. As long as the 



■T ■ ^ T • T I I T O 1 



emams 



months 



ded. Pruning can be done at intervals of three or 



much 



fungi, and it will also grow fairly well in half shade. One of 

 the faiilts of this plant is that the leaves do not last long; the fine 

 leaflets decay after a few days and only the branches and leaf 



emam 



Lamtor 



amoniT which it 



may be growing against drought as well as does Clitoria cajani- 

 folio, the next plant to be described. 



Clitoria cajanifolia, Barth, 



(Soend : Katjang tjepel of KakatjanganJ) 

 This plant grows best below 2000 feet and is one of the best for 

 covering the soil; it is also much used to plant on terraces to 

 prevent the soil from washing away. It lives long and stands 

 cutting very well. In plantations, where it has been sown for 

 three years, it does not seem to die away or lose its vitality. 

 One great advantage of this plant is, that when it has been cut 

 down, it spreads itself over the ground. The sowing is rather 

 troublesome, as the seeds are very sticky and adhere to the 

 fingers. The seed should be sown in lines, half a pod in each 

 hole, and they should not be washed before sowing, because they 





do not germinate very well after washing. The quickest way 

 in Miich a piece of ground may be covered is by sowing the 

 seed in lines from six to twelve inches apart, after about four 

 months the soil will be covered and the plants can then be cut 

 over every four or five months. 



Clitoria is recommended for planting in Hevea and Coffee 

 Plantations. One great advantage of this plant is, that the 

 leaves are tough and last a long time. If the leaves be cut in 

 the dry season and laid round the Coffee plants and Hevea trees, 

 tliey will last a long time and the plants will not suffer much 

 from drought ; the plants also frequently put out a crop of fresh 

 leaves when they have been cut over. 



Clitoria like Lamtoro does not suffer from insect pests or 

 fungal diseases. 



A further point in favour of this plant is that neither the 

 leaves nor seeds are eaten bv human beinjjs or animals. 



Tephrosia spp. 



Three Teplirosias liare been tried, namely, Tephrosia Candida, 

 T. IlooJceriana var., amoena and T. Vogelii. 



Tlie great value of tlie Tephrosias apart from tlieir otlier good 

 qualities is that they do better in soil of poor quality than do 

 Leucaena or Clitoria. 



