70 



To prevent too rapid evaporation, a few trees are left 

 growing on the land selected for the dalo. To pre- 

 pare the ground for dalo, the trees are felled and 

 burned, and the ground cleared from roots of grass 

 weeds, &c. The plants are put down in rows from 

 2 to 3 feet apart, and less is allowed from plant to 

 plant. Holes about 9 inches in depth are made in 

 the ground with a planting stick, which, before being 

 pulled out, is well shaken to harden the sides of the 

 hole, prevent the ground falling in, and water from 

 passing freely through the soil . This hole catches a 

 considerable amount of rain water, as it runs off the 

 ground, and generally retains it during a protracted 

 drought. Besides keeping the dalo moist, the depth 

 at which it is planted prevents it throwing out suckers 

 at the top of the tubers (conns), which it has a 

 tendency to do when planted near the surface. The 

 part planted is a thin piece cut from the crown of the 

 tuber, with the leaf stalks attached, — the leaves being 

 removed to prevent exhaustion. The Fijians seem 

 to be aware of this, and in transplanting the masi 

 (broussonetia papyrifera), bread fruit, &c, they re- 

 move the leaves when lifting the plant. The only 

 care bestowed on the land dalo after planting is to keep 

 down weeds, and this weeding is generally done in 

 wet weather, lest the ground should be too suddenly 

 exposed to the drying influences of sun and air. 



The place selected for growing water dalo 

 is generally the bottom of a valley, or any place 

 where water is at command. This plant, like rice, 

 requires a constant supply of fresh water. Not 

 a little labour and ingenuity has been displayed 

 by the Fijians in making aqueducts, often miles in 

 Length, over ravine and hollow, to carry a supply of 



