CULTIVATION. 8 1 



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 ex- 

 cellent 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. y 3 or 4 

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

 ' 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 weed- 

 ing drives and walks in England. 



To conclude shortly, for 'hoeing and weeding' I recommend 

 as follows : 



Dig the whole garden thrice in the year, vis., 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. 



Do all this and you will find your garden is kept clean and 



G 



