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pre7ent the formation of puddles. As soon as the monsoon 

 has commenced, and taking advantage of moderate weather, 

 planting may begin. At the lower end of each bed of the 

 Nursery a small trench is dug, from which the soil is well 

 thrown back, and each plant is cut out with a small square 

 ball of earth attached to its root. A round pointed knife 

 called a " Butcher's knife" is the best for this operation. 

 The balls of earth need not be large ; about thirty plants are 

 generally easily placed in a basket. For this purpose the 

 large sized (e Eachul Muncray" is the best, as it is stronger 

 and wider than the ordinary "War tee" or "Bamboo" baskets. 

 The plants are now carried to the field, and one having been 

 laid carefully along side of each hole, the planter's business 

 commences. If the work is on a hill side it is always right 

 to begin from .the crest, and work downwards, so as to 

 enable the cooly to attend to the straightness of his line. 

 Each planter is supplied with a small flat bamboo peg, the 

 blade of which should be three inches wide ; with this he 

 levels the little heap covering the hole, and arranges the 

 loose soil, so as to be slightly raised where the plant 

 is to be established. The peg is now pressed into 

 the prepared soil of the hole and moved edgeways, 

 laterally. The peg being removed, the hand is introduced, 

 and the soil drawn down towards the operator forming an 

 angle of 45 with the superior side of the slit, against which 

 the plant is now placed, and the soil returned with a firm 

 pressure of the hand. Great care should be taken not to 

 allow planting to be done too deep. An inch about the 

 crown of the root being amply sufficient. The surface is now 

 nicely arranged with the hand, and the peg used in lining, 

 is firmly placed in a sloping direction, across the plant, 

 on the windward side, to act as a support. Weeding should 

 be strictly attended to, and the whole of the rows must be 

 well lifted with the pick as soon as fine weather appears. 

 Surface drainage will even still more tend to make the 

 operation a success, but such is often conveniently carried 

 out the following season. The above system I have person- 



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