Staking. 149 



come in contact with the stem at about half the 

 height of the plant. It should be driven deeply 

 into the ground with a mallet, so as to afford a firm 

 and efficient support, care being of course used not 

 to cause more injury to the young roots than is 

 unavoidable. 



The plant must now be attached to the stake by 

 means of a broad band of some vegetable fibre, 

 looped in the form of the figure 8, the stem occupy- 

 ing one opening, and the stake the other. The 

 ligature must not be tied round the stem, otherwise 

 it will cut into the bark as the growth of the plant 

 goes on. I have seen cases where the bark of the 

 coffee-tree has grown completely over the band, the 

 plant being thus eventually killed. 



Stakes of good durable wood will generally last 

 from two to three years, and by the end of this 

 period the plants should have obtained a sufficiently 

 firm hold of the ground to be independent of arti- 

 ficial support. 



For fastenings, strips of aloe leaf, the inner bark 

 of many descriptions of trees, natural green jungle 

 rope, or coir yarn may be used, whichever may be 

 the most easily obtained. 



Should the plants have got worked in the ground 

 before having been provided with support, they 

 should be comfortably earthed up five or six inches 

 from the ground, in addition to being firmly secured. 



