THE PLANTATION 73 



hole should be mixed with well-rotted manure or 

 leaf mould, and the hole filled in with this mixture 

 to a depth of 18 ins. 



Everything being prepared, and an ample supply 

 of labour recruited, the young plants must be 

 carefully removed from the nursery at the com- 

 mencement of the rainy season. The best age for 

 effecting this removal is a point upon which experts 

 differ widely, the period they fix varying from 

 three to eighteen months, according to circum- 

 stances. During this operation the native workers 

 need close supervision, as they frequently injure 

 the roots of the seed-nuts by careless handling. 

 Any broken root should be cut off close to the nut 

 by means of a sharp knife. The young plants being 

 thus transferred to the field are forthwith planted 

 in such a way that the surface of the nut is just 

 covered by the soil in the hole, while it is not less 

 than 15 ins. below the level of the surface of the 

 field. Should the weather be dry, the plants must 

 be watered after the completion of these operations, 

 and in the event of the drought continuing, this 

 watering operation must be repeated every three 

 or four days for the first three weeks at least. 



Planting operations having been completed, the 

 planter has to organise the maintenance of his 

 estate, study the question of catchcrops, and solve 

 other knotty problems. In order to keep them 

 healthy and vigorous, the young trees must have 



