Definition of Weeds. 139 



desired to cultivate. Every shrub, plant, or herb 

 not expressly intended for growth, is a weed, and 

 must be treated accordingly. 



"Weeds on coffee estates are usually removed 

 either by being pulled up by the roots, scraped 

 away by means of a piece of hoop iron, or by the 

 hoe, or by being dug up. They can be subsequently 

 destroyed by being buried or burned. Too often, 

 however, they are merely left to rot on the surface 

 of the ground. 



By beginning to weed early, much subsequent 

 loss and expense will be avoided, and the work 

 should be systematically and carefully pursued 

 once a month, or oftener if necessary. Unfor- 

 tunately, however, this is not always practicable, 

 owing to scarcity of labour, and hence it is estates 

 are often seen so deplorably over-run. Within the 

 first month or two after a clean burn, on forest 

 land, the number of weeds should be so small as 

 almost to admit of their being counted ; one 

 springing up here and there, but each isolated and 

 independent. If, then, these are taken up before they 

 have run to seed, and if the whole estate is subse- 

 quently gone over in the same way, once a month 

 unfailingly, it can easily be kept permanently clean 

 at a very trifling expense ; but, once allow the 

 isolated weed-plant to run to seed, and for every 

 one, soon a hundred will appear ; and if these 



