158 REPORT ON THE CULTIVATION OF CHINCHONA IN BENGAL. 
from each other; and as the plants are six feet apart in the lines, a 
form distance a six feet between the plants is maintained. 
At first C. officinalis was planted with an interval of five feet be- 
tween the plants, but I have lately altered this plan for a system of 
close planting in lines, the lines being four feet apart. 
After the ground has been “ staked out,” the next preparation for 
planting consists of digging the soil to the depth of a foot, removing 
the roots at the same time in a circle about one foot in diameter, of 
which the stake is the centre. The planting of the ground thus pre- 
pared is performed in dull, cloudy weather, when showers are frequent, 
but when the ground is not saturated by long-continued heavy rain. 
The thoroughly hardened plants are brought from the adjoining 
nursery-beds in shallow boxes, which the men carry on their heads. 
The plants are given to the coolie engaged in planting, who, with his 
hands, makes a hole in the loose soil sufficiently large to admit the 
roots of the plant, and the soil is gently pressed around the roots to 
prevent the plant being beaten down by a heavy rain. The plants 
when taken from the nursery-bed should not be less than-four inches 
and should not exceed a foot in height, but plants varying from six to 
ten inches in height are of the best size. 
After the plants have been planted for three weeks it is necessary to 
cut down the weeds which had sprung up around them, as in a few 
weeks more the young Chinchonas would soon be smothered in a jungle 
five or six feet high. These weeds require to be cut down once a 
month from May until the end of October; they are laid in lines fol- 
lowing the slope of the hill, and the slightly raised ridges soon dis- 
appear as they are decomposed by the heavy rain and high tempera- 
ture. During the same period of the year it is necessary to weed 
every six weeks the prepared circles in which the Chinchonas are grow-. 
ing, and at the same time to loosen the soil round the plants by 
lightly hoeing with a kodalie or furroah. In November the entire 
surface of the plantations is thoroughly hoed, and by this means the 
weeds receive a great check by being exposed to the drying sunshine 
of the cold season after having been uprooted. After hoeing, the plan- 
tation requires no attention until the end of April, when a light cover- 
ing of weeds having sprung up again, the circles round the plants should 
be lightly hoed and somewhat enlarged. From May again until the 
end of October the periodical cutting of the weeds must be continued, 
contine demus ED Sh ot 
