CULTIVATION. 83 



take from the soil, and from manure, when given, the 

 strength you want for your constantly recurring flushes. 

 If, therefore, you have a large crop of weeds you have a 

 small yield of Tea. 



How to stop this ? There is one golden rule, " never 

 let them get ahead of you." This, it is true, argues ample 

 labour ; but unless you have ample labour for the area you 

 cultivate, better let your money lie in the Bank and not 

 grow Tea. Reduce your area until you can keep ahead of 

 your weeds, for keep ahead you must if you wish for success. 



The secret of keeping ahead of weeds is to destroy them 

 when young, to do this again and again, as often as they 

 come up, never allowing them to bear seed. The kodalee, 

 an excellent digging tool, is not good for this : you want a 

 lighter instrument, which can go over more ground and will 

 not open the soil in the dry season to any depth. The 

 Dutch hoe, the widest procurable in the blade, with a long 

 lithe handle of 6 feet, is perfect for this. 



With weeds at the height fit for a Dutch hoe, viz., 3 or 4 

 inches, and not numerous (which they will not be if you have 

 11 kept ahead"), a man will easily do 45 square nulls, id est, 

 720 square yards. He would not do more than 30 nulls 

 with a kodalee. 



The Dutch hoe must be well known. It is used for 

 weeding drives and walks in England. 



To conclude shortly, for " hoeing and weeding " I 

 recommend as follows : 



Dig the whole garden thrice in the year, viz., spring, 

 rains, and autumn. Bury all weeds as you dig in trenches 

 between the lines. 



In the intervals use the Dutch hoe as often as weeds 

 appear. 



Cultivate the plants by digging round them once a month 

 if possible. 



