74 THE PLANTATION 



constant care and attention. One of their prin- 

 cipal needs is a liberal supply of moisture, and 

 whenever the natural sources are not available 

 recourse must be had to artificial supplies. To 

 manuring, which plays such an important part in 

 the maintenance and development of an estate, 

 we have devoted a special chapter. As regards 

 clean weeding, opinions again differ among experts, 

 much depending upon the locality and the soil 

 itself. In some centres estates are cleaned three 

 or four times a year, while in others even double this 

 attention is needed ; on the other hand, many 

 plantations are kept in excellent order with, say, 

 four cleanings in six years. The Malay Government 

 expert considers that the land is always the better 

 for being kept clean and well weeded ; but after 

 the trees are in bearing, unless the catchcrop be 

 coffee, grass may be allowed to remain, even where 

 there are fruit trees. The coconut trees themselves 

 should be circled and dug round, if possible, every 

 three months, and where coconuts only are planted, 

 ploughing over the whole land periodically to a 

 depth of 9 ins. will be found highly beneficial. 

 Special efforts must be made to protect the young 

 trees from the attacks of noxious insects, wild 

 animals, high winds, and the damaging depre- 

 dations of cattle, if any, though where the trees have 

 attained a fair height, and cattle cannot reach the 

 leaves, they may with advantage be allowed to 



