Dibbling. 121 



thinner from the middle to the sides, till the edges 

 become sharp. The length of the iron handle is 

 seven inches, and sufficiently strong not to bend in 

 working, and six-eighths of an inch square ; the 

 iron handle is furnished with a turned hilt, like the 

 handle of a large gimlet both in its form and the 

 manner of being fixed on." This implement might 

 probably be found convenient for the actual opera- 

 tion of planting, being used in accordance with the 

 instructions given above, in reference to the mam- 

 motie ; the latter, however, I am inclined to 

 think, is equally suitable, and has the additional 

 recommendation of being better understood by the 

 coolies. 



It will be evident that if pitting could be dis- 

 pensed with, an estate might be opened and planted 

 up at a greatly reduced expense, and in compara- 

 tively little time ; consequently the experiment has 

 often been tried, the plants being simply " dibbled 

 in," and this in some few cases has seemed to answer 

 fairly well. The objects of pitting are mainly to 

 give free scope to the roots of the plant, while young 

 and tender, and to prevent their being interfered 

 with by the original forest roots or stones. Should 

 this end be otherwise gained, however, by means of 

 some special peculiarity in the nature of the soil, 

 or if they can be secured by other means ; in other 

 words, should the surface soil be deep and open, 



