CULTIVATION OF RHIZOPHORA 101 
No records seem to exist as to how, when, and where bakauan 
was first cultivated, but it is safe to say that the present plant- 
ing methods have been in use for at least three generations. 
An evident reason for the cultivation is the large agricultural 
population on the level lands of Pampanga Province and the 
accessibility of the Manila market. 
In the municipalities of Macabebe, Guagua, Lubao, Sexmoan, 
and Orani there are a number of barrios along the rivers which 
have a population that divides its labor among the fishing, 
bakauan, and nipa industries. 
PLANTING AND CULTIVATION 
The land chosen for planting bakauan is brackish or salt 
Swamp, at or near the edge of a river in places which are affected 
by the tide. Nipa and bakauan are often planted in the same 
kind of mud. Very soft muddy soil is said to be the best for 
bakauan; and on such soil it makes its most rapid growth. 
On comparatively firm mud, it grows far more slowly, some- 
times requiring much more than twice as long to produce a 
crop as when grown on the very soft mud. Freshly deposited 
soft mud at the edge of a stream, even though the strip may 
be no more than 2 meters in width, is eagerly appropriated 
for new planting. 
The unit of area used in the mangrove cultivation is the 
“Juang,” which is 279.56 square meters. There are thus 35.77 
luangs in 1 hectare. 
If the ground which is to be planted has not been in cultivation 
for some time, it is covered with a dense tangle of low shrubs 
and vines. These are, for the most part, the low shrubby 
diliuariu (Acanthus ilicifolius L.) ; the spiny, woody vine known 
as sapinit [Caesalpinia nuga (L.) Ait.]; and several small, low- 
growing vines. 
The land must be thoroughly cleared before planting. This 
is a difficult task and usually costs 2 pesos per luang, some- 
times 2.50 pesos per luang. This would mean the work of two 
men for about two days. The clearing consists in cutting off 
the brush, pulling up or digging up the roots, if this is possible, 
and filling and leveling crab holes. 
Clearing is reduced to a minimum by promptly replanting 
cut-over areas. After bakauan has been harvested, the ground 
may be left idle for from four months to a year, or until the 
bark on the roots is evidently rotten. The area can then be 
replanted without any new clearing being necessary. 
The seedlings are frequently gathered from special seed trees 
which are left for this purpose. Often low-growing or dwarf 
