WEEDING AND CULTIVATION 223 



well chankolled for the first time, the second period of three 

 weeks has closed. The manager then enters on the third 

 period of three- weekly weeding. The first area of 150 acres 

 is a little less difficult to clean up than on the two previous 

 occasions, and the additional block is easier than with the first 

 weeding. With a few additions to the labour force perhaps he 

 may now be able to start work for the first time on a fifth block 

 of 50 acres. Unless, however, he sees his way clear to tackle 

 this block without imperilling the regular three-weekly weeding 

 of the previous blocks, he should on no account be induced to 

 extend the area. 



It is marvellous how, after a shower of rain, ground which 

 had been thoroughly well weeded for many three-weekly 

 periods becomes as green as a park. Should a manager have 

 been rash enough to take too large an area in hand, he is apt to 

 be driven to despair at such times. For years the ground seems 

 to be full of seed ready to spring up into fresh vegetation after 

 every shower of rain. It is only by persistently wearing the 

 lalang down on moderate areas and adding small acreages to 

 the weeding round when work is well in hand that lalang can 

 be got under. 



Five to six pounds sterling per acre is no uncommon 

 expenditure before the lalang is sufficiently under control to 

 reduce weeding to the ordinary monthly round. 



Once lalang has been got under control the following is a 

 fair average of how ordinary weeding-costs should work out 

 each successive year. It is to be borne in mind that weeding 

 is being spoken of, not cultivation, two very different things. 

 The cost of deep forkings and chankollings are not included in 

 the figures first given. 



COSTS OF WEEDING, PER MONTH, PER ACRE 



Ceylon Sumatra F.M.S. 



ist year .... R.2.5O 0.2.50 $2.50 



1.50 1.50 1.50 



.60 .60 .60 

 4th .... 

 Light forking or chankolling 



per acre, each time 



35 -35 -35 



1.50 1.50 1.50 



Heavy 3 3 3 



