1 20 Coffee Planting. 



the declivity and surface of the pit, and in finishing 

 to raise the lower margin of the pit, whereby the 

 plant will be made to stand as if on level ground, 

 and the moisture be retained in the hollow of the 

 angle. . . . Green, or unpractised hands, are 

 apt to double the roots ; . . . a careful man, 

 however, will become if not a speedy, at least a 

 good planter in one day, and it is of more im- 

 portance he should be a sure hand than a quick 

 one/' 



It is worthy of attention that in planting with a 

 stake or crowbar, as is sometimes attempted, coolies 

 are apt to " hang " the plants, namely, to press the 

 earth round the throat of the plant only, while a 

 vacuum is left round the roots below ; indeed, 

 where the soil is stiff, and only a deep narrow hole 

 has been made with the crowbar, this can hardly 

 be avoided. The result is that, although for a week 

 or two the plant may bear a healthy appearance, it 

 dies as soon as hot weather begins. For this reason 

 narrow, pointed implements should never be used 

 for planting. In Europe, an implement called the 

 " diamond dibber " is often used. It is thus de- 

 scribed : " The plate of the dibber is made of good 

 steel, and is four inches and a half broad where the 

 iron handle is welded to it ; each of the other two 

 sides of the triangle is five inches long ; the thick- 

 ness of the plate one-fifth part of an inch, made 



