CINNAMON. 193 
spread upon the newly-dug spots, and into each of them 4 or 5 
cinnamon berries are sown, in holes made with a dibble. They 
are then covered with earth, and branches are laid over the parts 
to prevent the earth from becoming parched and to protect the 
young plants as soon as they come up. This takes place in 
about 3 weeks. Sometimes the berries are sown in nurserics 
and the young plants are transplanted in October and November. 
In favourable situations plants attain the height of 5 or 6 feet 
in about 6 or 7 years, and a healthy bush will then afford 2 or 
3 shoots fit for peeling, but in unfavourable situations there is 
no yield until the eighth or the twelfth year. In a good soil, 
from 4 to 7 shoots may be cut from one tree every second year ; 
thriving shoots of 4 years’ growth are sometimes fit for cutting, 
but they may be sometimes cut at the age of 2 years. A greyish 
corky appearance is an indication of their fitness. 
As 4 or 5 seeds are usually sown in one spot, and in most 
seasons the greater part of them germinate, the plants grow in 
clusters, not unlike a hazel bush. If the season be unusually 
dry many of the seeds fail, and the want of moisture is often fatal 
to the young plants, so that it is sometimes necessary to plant a 
piece of ground several times successively. A plantation of 
cinnamon, even on good ground, cannot be expected to make 
much return until a lapse of 8 or 9 years. The plant is likewise 
sometimes propagated from shoots cut from large trees, or by 
layers, also by transplanting large stumps or divisions of a parent 
stump. The method of culture by seeds is considered the least 
advantageous, as it requires greater attention than other modes 
and the trees are longer before they arrive at perfection. If 
cultivated from shoots, the cuttings must be continually watered 
or they will not thrive. Those selected for the purpose should 
be very young, not having more than three leaves ; if older they 
die. The method by layers has been recommended because the 
numerous side-branches which issue from the bottom of the 
trunk always furnish a plentiful supply well adapted to the 
purpose. Plants raised in this way or from cuttings soon require 
pruning to prevent them growing too tall, they then assume the 
form of stocks or pollards. The transplanting of divisions of 
old roots is a practice which is much approved, as they yield 
shoots of useful size 12 months after they have been placed in 
the ground. Great care is, however, necessary in their removal, 
for should any of the rootlets, even of one tenth of an inch 
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